About Little Justice Leaders
How It Works
We have programs for schools and individuals who care about social justice in learning. We've worked with thousands of school leaders, teachers, homeschool families, and caregivers to bring social justice education to kids. When you sign up for Little Justice Leaders, you become part of a community of educators and caregivers committed to social justice education.
Be part of the solution.
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Curriculum
Everything you need to start teaching students about social justice today. Save hours on lesson planning, and feel confident that you have the most up-to-date resources rooted in justice.
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Professional Development
Access exclusive training sessions, designed and delivered by experts in social justice education. Stay knowledgeable and current on best practices for building justice-based learning environments.
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Community
Connect with like-minded educators and caregivers who care about social justice! Ask questions, swap resources, and build meaningful connections to stay engaged and motivated in this work.
Our team
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Dr. Shelby Kretz (she/her)
Founder
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Dr. Diondraya Taylor (she/her)
Schools Program Specialist
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SK Smigiel (she/they)
Content Creator
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Rachael Lucille (they/she)
Schools Program Specialist and Content Creator
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Gabby Velez (she/her)
Content Creator
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Tatisha McKay (she/her)
Curriculum and
Schools Program Specialist
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Katie Moran (she/her)
Curriculum Specialist
Some of our incredible partners
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Naomi O'Brien (she/her)
Anti-Racist Educator, Author, and Speaker
"I appreciate the work they do in getting critical and important information and lessons into the hands of children and their families. LJL does this in a way that is easy for people, children and their families, to access and learn from the information and put things into practice in order to make our world a better place."
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Charlie Amáyá Scott (she/they)
Scholar, Advocate, and Educator
"The next generation of youth is coming into their power, and I am thankful for organizations like Little Justice Leaders, who are committed to empowering and celebrating the brilliance of the rising activists, advocates, and leaders through education and a little bit of fun."
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Skye Tooley (they/them)
Anti-Bias Educator
"I support LJL because they are intentional with creating resources and activities for kids and families to have these discussions. They work with community members, ensure that all materials are accessible, and include beautiful picture books to use at home and in the classroom. LJL embodies social justice and community and ensures that we have the tools to learn together and engage with our learners, too."
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Saliha Yousaf (she/her)
Marketing Manager at Digital4Good x #ICANHELP
"I truly appreciated getting the opportunity to work with LJL on their Digital Media Literacy kit. I find these kits can play an important role for adults to start having active conversations with the youth on social topics that can be challenging to navigate and discuss on one's own."
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Brittany Jefferson (she/they)
Climate Justice Educator, Parent, Environmentalist
"I am happy to be a collaborator with Little Justice Leaders because they have been proven to be devoted to representing folks from all kinds of marginalized identities. We are able to create fun and engaging lessons for kids and resources for teachers using relevant and important topics of today."
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Tai Simpson (she/her)
Storyteller, Organizer, Activist, Advocate
"Our work as social justice change makers requires us to honor our ancestors, who’s come before us and to ensure that we include our young people, the future generations of change making. I support and partner with Little Justice Leaders in their mission because they are nurturing future generations to be champions for diversity, inclusion, and equity. LJL not only gives us a space to share our knowledge, but in turn I feel a deep sense of hope for the world as children engage with what I’ve shared."
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Natalia Rodriguez (she/her)
Mental Health Advocate
"Little Justice Leaders creates a powerful bundle of resources on issues that is hard to find elsewhere. I love that it puts major points of conversation and fun age-appropriate education at a kids fingertips while also giving a parent control over how and when these topics are introduced. More tools like this are the reason why there will be more aware and empathic future. The path there is paved by ideas just like this and the parents who facilitate this change. CREATE Kids Edu is so happy to have contributed to emotional health resources and our team is wishing LJL a lot of future growth!"
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Desmond Napoles
Teenage Multi-Awarded LGBTQ+ Advocate
"Little Justice Leaders has been an incredible platform for me to contribute to my values of inclusivity, diversity, and kindness. Collaborating with them on their recent materials allowed me to integrate my passion for creating a more equitable world. LJL's commitment to educating young minds about various social justice topics resonates deeply with my vision of fostering empathy and understanding in the next generation. I'm grateful for the opportunity to support their mission and be part of a collective effort to instill these critical values in children."
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Juan E Gonzalez Jr. (he/him)
Public School Teacher
"I’m passionate about finding books that represent our world, and I’m grateful to LJL for helping educators and families make this process purposeful and easy to access!"
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Soni Lopez-Chavez (she/her)
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Nikki Hunjan (she/her)
Activist, Former Teacher
"I support LJL because it's important to have discussions about social justice early and often. Our family has talked and will continue to talk about how to be inclusive. The LJL kits make it easy and kid friendly to tackle subjects like racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc."
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Ashley Mayfaire (they/she)
Non-Profit Leader and Creative Problem-Solver
"Working with LJL on the Importance of Names box was a great experience, and I enjoyed the process of thinking through how to describe concepts in a way that is accessible for young learners. I also really appreciated the perspectives and knowledge shared by the other contributors, and it was so special to receive the box in the mail and see the final product! I'm grateful that a learning resource like this exists for families seeking informative, inclusive information for their young ones as they grow."
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J Aprileo (they/them)
Blogger, Advocate
"I support LJL because their mission to make social justice content that's understandable for children, just makes sense. How many times have you wished you had the language to explain something complex to the kiddo in your life? LJL provides books and activities to help facilitate those conversations in productive ways. The mission to help young folks learn how to put their values to work to make this world a better place is absolutely an inspiration to me."
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Amber Starks (she/her)
Activist, Writer, Decolonial Theorist, and Cultural Commentator
"You all are so intentional and mindful with how you educate and communicate about Indigenous peoples. You make such an effort to listen, center our varied lived experiences, and our diverse (and collective) histories. I just think of all the little ones who are opening their kits and learning directly from us - Native/Indigenous peoples - and it brings me hope. And I think of all the little Native/Indigenous kids who see themselves represented and celebrated. It reinforces that this work is good, that it has value and meaning, and that it’s planting tangible seeds of change."
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Ellin Park (she/they)
Writer and Autism Content Creator
"The Little Justice Leaders learning boxes provide a fun and interactive way of introducing kids to complex social justice issues. I'm glad to have taken part in the creation of the Communication and Expression box and bring my perspective as an autistic person."
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Zainab bint Younus (she/her)
Mother, Writer, Community Worker, Grassroots Activist, Librarian, and Book Reviewer
"LJL's work is so important in today's context, where children and adults alike are exposed to bigger and bigger ideas and difficult realities every day. I'm honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to LJL's Combatting Anti-Muslim Bias box, and hope that our work is able to help so many people who want to learn more."
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Sarah Moe (she/her)
Lawyer, Software Engineer, and Founder of Strike For Our Rights
"We love LJL! They are doing such important work in bringing social justice education to children (and adults!) around the country. They cover topics that can be difficult for parents or caregivers to know how or what to teach on a subject. It's seriously such a benefit for everyone involved: the child, the adults, and society at large."
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Angela Tucker (she/her)
Author, Founder and Adoption Educator
"The work that LJL does is so important because it provides a way for students to learn to look at current and historical events through a social justice lens. The students are better equipped to spot discrimination and inequality, which in turn supports their decision-making skills. With regards to transracial adoption specifically, kids can grasp intersectional thinking at a younger age (as opposed to binary thinking). They can recognize that transracial adoptees' lives are impacted by both race and adoption, not just one or the other. Kids gain a broader idea of what family means."
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Tamara Slade (she/her)
Social Justice Educator, Coach, and Author
"I wholeheartedly support Little Justice Leaders because of their crucial role in shaping young minds. As an educator, I understand the importance of reaching children early to foster conversations about race, gender, sexuality, disability and other important topics. Little Justice Leaders provides invaluable resources in the form of weekly activity boxes, tailored for elementary-aged kids, families, and educators. These kits not only engage children in fun and educational activities but also empower them to develop empathy, critical thinking skills, and a sense of social justice. Little Justice Leaders' work is essential in creating a more inclusive and equitable society for future generations, and I'm proud to support their mission."
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Maribel Valdez Gonzalez (she/her)
Educator, Coach and Mother
"The work of Little Justice Leaders is so important! I appreciate how the staff and partners have created resources on social justice topics that are accessible and interesting to both youth and the adults learning alongside them. Learning about the experiences, joys, and struggles of marginalized communities cultivates empathy and compassion. Youth become more sensitive to the challenges faced by others and are more likely to engage in acts of kindness and support. LJL's success means my own children will grow up in a world where they are seen, validated, and only have good choices. For that, I am grateful."
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Kwame Sarfo-Mensah
Founder & CEO
"I've been honored to collaborate with LJL on different projects over the last four years and I continue to support LJL because they are true advocates of culturally responsive and identity-affirming education. The organization's commitment to center and amplify the voices and experiences of historically marginalized communities pushes me to do the work that I do as an educator."
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Melissa Guida-Richards (she/her)
Author, Mother and Adoption Educator
"Working with LJL was such an amazing experience because they really listened and asked important questions about adoption while listening fully to my lived experience as an adoptee and adoption educator. It’s not always easy making nuanced content for kids and families and they really put a lot of thought and effort into everything." -
Dr. David J. Johns (he/him)
CEO and Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)
"Frederick Douglass reminds us that it's easier to support the learning and development of strong (critically thinking, compassionate, and concerned) children than to repair broken people. Little Justice Leaders is a critical tool for anyone who understands the importance of this work."
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Joanna Ho (she/her)
Author, Educator, and Learning Experience Designer
"It was an honor to be included in the Importance of Names box. LJL curriculum, questions and activities are thoughtful and compassionate and help learners of all ages develop tools to critically engage with important issues of our time."
Hi, I'm Shelby
My dream is to help the kids in my life and other kids like them grow up with an awareness of social justice and acceptance of all people.
I completed my Ph.D. in Urban Education at UCLA, and I’m passionate about education and social justice. My dissertation research explored how educators can bring social justice to their elementary classrooms.
I’ve spent more than a decade working with schools, educators, and families to facilitate fun learning experiences.
Please feel free to email me directly at shelby@littlejusticeleaders.com with any questions, concerns, or ideas for working together.
I hope you will join our community of Little Justice Leaders!