Yesterday afternoon, KIPP Rise Academy in Newark celebrated its middle school LGBTQ+ students and staff with food, dancing, activities, and support. Members of the Rainbow Education Alliance for Diverse Individuals (READI) club shared their favorite experiences from their time in READI, concluding with a  proper Pride Month send-off: a rainbow piñata!

KIPP Rise leaders note that celebrations of LGBTQ+ youth in our schools are increasingly important, as more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced nationwide in this year alone. They are proud to provides a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to learn and express themselves. They also note that teachers at the public charter in Newark’s West Ward are given a large amount of freedom to figure out what works best for their kids and use those methods in their classrooms. These creative teachers deliver effective, outside-the-box tactics that students love, such as turning reading and math lessons into prize-winning competitions.

Happy Pride Month! Enjoy the photos.