Exploring the Role of JIMENA in Public K-12

JIMENA Issues Call to Action for First Draft of California’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC)

JIMENA calls on Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish Americans to submit their written feedback to the California Department of Education’s (CDE) first draft of the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC).

California’s Sephardic Organizations Respond to 1st Draft of the ESMC

JIMENA and eleven Sephardic institutions in California share concerns with the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) and the California Department of Education (CDE) over the first draft of the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum

Advocates for Inclusive Middle Eastern Education (AIMEE) in born

JIMENA becomes a founding member of AIMEE, a diverse coalition of Middle Eastern minority communities in California asking CDE for balance and inclusion in the ESMC.

JIMENA Submits Lesson on Antisemitism for inclusion in California’s ESMC

In a formal request to CDE, JIMENA asks for inclusion of the first draft of the lesson plan, Antisemitism and Jewish Middle Eastern Americans in the ESMC.

JIMENA Responds to Second Draft of California’s ESMC

A formal public response to the second draft of the ESMC is issued.

JIMENA Issues Four Principles for Ethnic Studies

JIMENA shares four principles of an Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum that is representative, equitable, and free from bias.

JIMENA Issues Call to Action on Second Draft of California’s ESMC

Through an email campaign, JIMENA urges public to ask CDE to adopt our four principles for the ESMC.

JIMENA Asks Public to Respond to Second Draft of ESMC

JIMENA asks the public to call into CA’s IQC meeting and voice support for the inclusion of the lesson Antisemitism and Jewish Middle Eastern Americans in the ESMC.

JIMENA Asks California Department of Education for Equal Treatment to other Middle Eastern Communities in the final ESMC

JIMENA asks the IQC and CDE for equal treatment to other SWANA communities by moving the lesson on antisemitism to the Asian American Studies Section of the ESMC.

JIMENA Supports Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) Recommendations

In a public statement, JIMENA issues its support of the IQC’s suggested revisions to the second draft of the curriculum.

JIMENA Issues Final Call to Action to the Public

Through an email campaign 15,000 members of the public ask for the lesson on antisemitism to be moved to the Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies Section of the ESMC.

JIMENA Submits Suggested Revisions to final ESMC

Through a formal request, JIMENA provides the CDE and SBE with suggested revisions for a balanced curriculum free from bias.

JIMENA Submits Jewish Communal Request to State Board of Education

JIMENA and national Jewish communal organizations ask for the JIMENA lesson to be moved to Asian American Studies section.

JIMENA Submits Suggested Revisions

JIMENA submits requested revisions to the State Board of Education asking for lesson to be moved to Asian American Studies section

JIMENA Statement on California’s State Board of Education Approval of the final ESMC

JIMENA released a statement on the State Board of Education’s unanimous vote to approve the fourth draft of the ESMC.

JIMENA Issues Statement on New Scholarly Research on Middle Eastern Jewish History Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

JIMENA raises concerns regarding a grant to academic scholars to “re-imagine Jewish life in the Middle East”

JIMENA Hosts Journey to the Mizrah Conference for Educators

With support from the Koret Foundation, educators join a two-day conference where they hear from experts and explore a variety of subjects related to the Middle East

JIMENA Responds to California Department of Education’s Antibias Grant Program

JIMENA calls to halt school grants until antisemitism education is included in plans

JIMENA’s Recommendations Included in the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism

The White House adopts JIMENA’s suggestions of teaching the history of Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews in public schools and including antisemitism in Ethnic Studies

JIMENA Distributes Educational Resources on Antisemitism for use Nationwide

In response to the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, JIMENA curates state-approved lesson plans on Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews and antisemitism for public instruction.

JIMENA’s Education Work Recognized by the Jim Joseph Foundation

Jim Joseph Foundation publishes article, JIMENA: Expanding its Role as an Educational Leader

JIMENA Participates in California’s Education to End Hate Series

JIMENA’s Executive Director, Sarah Levin, participated in a statewide panel discussion addressing antisemitism, convened by California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

JIMENA Urges California to Define and Combat Antisemitism in Public Education

JIMENA responds to Governor Newsom letter to school districts statewide

JIMENA Participates in Biden Administration Antisemitism in Education Gathering in San Francisco, California

Bay Area Superintendents meet with Deputy Secretary of Education to address antisemitism

JIMENA Launches Antisemitism Training for Public School Educators and Administrators

Fairfax County School District successfully pilots JIMENA’s antisemitism training

Distinctions Journal Education Issue Released

JIMENA’s Journal launched issue that includes reflections on Ethnic Studies, Children’s Literature for K-12, and inclusion of diverse Jewish identities in the classroom.

AIMEE Coalition Relaunches Nationally with 37 Indigenous Middle Eastern Partners

JIMENA relaunches Advocates for Inclusive Middle Eastern Education as a national grassroots coalition dedicated to improving representation of indigenous and minority Middle Eastern and North African histories in K-12 education. AIMEE grows to 37 partner organizations and community leaders representing Amazigh, Assyrian, Coptic, Druze, Jewish, Kurdish, Yazidi, and Zoroastrian communities.

AIMEE Launches Digital Platform for K-12 Educators

AIMEE’s new website launches with 140 classroom-ready educational resources, including lesson plans, curricula, videos, worksheets, bibliographies, and community profiles, giving public school educators nationwide free access to accurate, inclusive content on Middle Eastern and North African communities.

JIMENA and AIMEE materials distributed to all 50 state departments of education

JIMENA and Education Policy Project Ask Federal Government to Suspend Support of California’s University to K-12 Antisemitism Pipeline

In a 23-page research brief, organizations call for federal officials to investigate California Subject Matter Project’s ESEA compliance and suspend funding pending corrective action.

JIMENA and AIMEE Reach Thousands of Educators at National Education Conferences

JIMENA and AIMEE present at leading mainstream education conferences, including the California Council for the Social Studies, the National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention, the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference, and the National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, directly engaging more than 2,500 educators nationwide

JIMENA Expands State and District Partnerships Nationwide

JIMENA and AIMEE are recognized as vetted partners of the New York State Center for Educational Civil Discourse, the Anti-Hate Education Center, the California Department of Education, LA Unified School District and the National Education Association. Active partnerships and curriculum review processes advance in Washington D.C., Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and additional states.

JIMENA Launches Holocaust Training for Museum Staff, Public School Administrators and Teachers

Trainings conducted throughout California on the often-overlooked experiences of Jews during the Holocaust in the Middle East and North Africa, connecting this history to contemporary antisemitism and antizionism.

JIMENA and Education Policy Project Ask University of California President James Milliken to audit and suspend support for California’s University to K-12 Antisemitism Pipeline