[Photo courtesy of Oscar Sanchez/@oso_campeon on Twitter]

Lauren Bianchi and Chuck Stark are two CTU teachers at George Washington High School on Chicago’s far southeast side. They used their voices to successfully advocate against the move by a major polluter,  General Iron, from an affluent Lincoln Park neighborhood to the working class largely Latinx neighborhood near Washington High School. 

[Link to CTU article on this fight]

[Link to WCPT 820 AM radio show - Sunday Mornings with Brandon Johnson ft. Chuck & Lauren]

They worked side by side with community organizations and families from the neighborhood. Their work served as a model, inspiring student activism and teaching students that they can play a powerful role in making their communities safer.  

In response to their advocacy for the school community, Mayor Lori Lightfoot vindictively tried to pressure the Board of Education to fire Lauren and Chuck. This was not only an injustice to these teachers but an assault on their community and the fight against environmental racism.   

[Part of the ceiling collapse at George Washington High School. Courtesy of Donald Davis]

Meanwhile, George Washington High School is falling apart structurally and the Mayor has done nothing to help. This is happening at a time when only 40 CPS schools have librarians, and CPS has yet to fulfill its promise of a nurse and social worker in every school despite greater need than ever. It is clear that the Mayor’s priorities are out of whack with the needs of Chicago's students and families.  

Lightfoot’s move to fire two educators because of their fight against environmental racism was an attempt to silence our voices. The Chicago Board of Education voted unanimously, 6-0, NOT to fire Lauren and Chuck. Together, we reminded the Mayor that our voices cannot be silenced. When we fight, we win! We will continue to fight for our students, our families, and our communities! ♦

[Link to CTU Press Conference on the Chicago Board of Education's vote]