Events and Activities

Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner

Every year NEA directs a Human and Civil Rights Awards program to honor individuals and affiliates who stand up and defend human and civil rights.

At our annual awards dinner we celebrate our multi-ethnic roots and salute the human and civil rights heroes of our day. This year's theme: "NEA-150 Years: Taking A Stand And Making A Difference!"

November -- American Indian Heritage Month

This month observes the contributions and unique heritage of our nation's first Americans.

• Check out our Native American booklist for children through young adults.
• Use our extensive list of classroom resources to introduce students to Native American histories and cultures.
• Read an interview with Joseph Bruchac, an author of Abenaki heritage who has written more than 50 books for young people.

Please help us identify exemplary individuals and organizations to recognize in 2008.

May --  Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Use the month of May to learn about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who represent nearly 50 ethnic groups, over 100 languages, and various religions and histories. They've descended from immigrants, arrived as recent refugees from war-torn countries, and are native to Hawaiian lands. Find out why the "model minority" stereotype applied to some students masks educational barriers faced by others.

February -- Black History Month

This month honors the contributions and unique heritages of citizens of American Blacks. Check out our African-American booklist for children through young adults.

• Use our list of classroom resources to introduce students to African-American history and culture. For example:
  • Find out how students can reinforce learning by putting their knowledge of historic Black figures into rap poetry form.
  
  
• Learn about Black history as it has been made here at the National Education Association (and take our links to the best resources on the Web).
  
  
• Discover the history of the American Teachers Association, which nurtured some of the most notable Black educators in the nation before merging with NEA in 1966.
  
  
• Meet a retired NEA member and director of the only public library in Haynesville, Alabama, who reminisces about her childhood when she and her siblings had to walk a mile to the school for African-American children.

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