Although the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many parts of civilization, U.S. educators, students and educational advocates have continued to battle for social equity in the classroom. Experts addressed these and other issues at South by Southwest (SXSW) EDU, the education-centric portion of the annual Austin-based SXSW festival. The pandemic’s emergence last spring caused the abrupt cancellation of all SXSW activities in 2020. This year, on March 9-11, SXSW EDU and main SXSW took place completely online.

Bihl Haus Arts hosts “10,000 Years of Love and Resistance: A Celebration of the Arts and Spiritual Union,” an exhibition that recognizes the 50-year union of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto and Dudley Brooks, opening with a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 21 at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Road. The media includes photography, painting, installation and recorded soundscape.

The statistics are staggering. According to a national study, between 6% and 35% of the young people in this country have experienced some form cyber bullying. It’s being recognized as a new form of violence, and it has potentially devastating consequences.

This video by the ACLU explains the presidential actions regarding transgender students and the civil rights case heading to the U.S. Supreme Court on March 28. Last year, President Barack Obama said civil rights laws should cover transgender students, but in 2017, President Donald Trump said transgender students should not be covered by civil rights laws. But the courts determine the law, and the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on this issue on March 28, 2017.

This week on the Edge: A proposal to cut $1.3 million from San Antonio's Community Safety Net - services for domestic violence victims and the homeless; a San Antonio vigil for Orlando, a Conversation with the Texas Hunger Initiative and an anthology of videos about Kelly Allen, the trailblazing pastor of San Antonio's University Presbyterian Church. San Antonio FY 2017 Budget

Inside the moment of one of America’s greatest tragedies, local, transgender comedian, Joan Riviera, had one piece of advice: “Don’t let fear overcome the day.” Just hours after the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, San Antonio community members, including civic leaders, LGBT leaders and their allies, organized a vigil in Crockett Park to mourn the 50 lives lost at an Orlando nightclub and stand in solidarity.

San Antonio residents and community leaders held a vigil June 12 for the victims killed at an Orlando night club that morning. Here are some images from the gathering:

This facilitated discussion will assist board members and volunteers move forward in the Center's 3-5 year strategic plan to determine how the Center can make the greatest impact in our community. Thanks to the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation for underwriting this webcast, which you can replay here:

by Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune Jan. 9, 2015