— The MEA Center for Leadership & Learning will be launching a new SCECH-eligible book study next month. “The Laramie Project,” by Moises Kaufman, is a play that explores the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay man living in Laramie, Wyoming. After going through the original play, participants will then read the epilogue, “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.” The epilogue of the book delves into the legacy left behind and how the community continues to deal with this horrendous hate crime. Learn more here or register by Feb. 1.

— The MEA Social Justice Committee is cordially inviting members to join them in a discussion about Critical Race Theory. This conversation called, “Honesty in Education: Unpacking Critical Race Theory (CRT),” is open to all members. It will be held Feb. 18 from 6-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. Learn more or sign up today.

— NEA is offering a webinar – “Our Bodies: Are We Paying Attention to the Signals?” – to help with member health and wellbeing. From 7-8:30 p.m. on Jan. 20, the session will delve into how our lifestyle, environment, and bodies are all trying to tell us something. Mental health and physiological health go hand in hand, and there are many lifelong and recent factors that impact both, including external stressors, toxic systems, habits, and more that have been either activated or exacerbated by the pandemic. This session will examine risk factors and resulting health problems that educators are experiencing and provide strategies to improve personal health and mental well-being. Register now.

— The Michigan Department of Education is offering a free, SCECH-eligible virtual conference series, “The Role of Diversity within the Literature that We Teach.” Each session will feature one-hour keynote addresses from celebrated authors renowned for their work around diversity in literature. Keynote speakers will discuss the history, through their own lens, and purpose of diverse literacy materials in schools. The Jan. 27 session features author Shonda Buchanan. Learn more and register here by Jan. 25.