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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Weiss from Philadelphia, PA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Weiss is requesting

Dear Martin Encourages Civic Action through Powerful and Engaging Literature

Help me give my students physical books centering a young Black man learning about race, identity, and the power of a young person's voice in society as he writes letters to his role model, Martin Luther King Jr.

  • $842 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Weiss for her next project!

Help Ms. Weiss

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Weiss for her next project!

My Students

I teach at an alternative high school for students who are over-age and/or under-credited. Our students are the definition of resilient. Some of them have faced poverty, home insecurity, may be young parents, have been in terribly underfunded school facilities, have been bullied or unfairly treated, and still have committed to make a choice to finish their education despite all these barriers!

Many of my students who struggled in other school settings find success in an environment that treats them as a whole human not just a student.

We attain this success together by building strong community, focusing on social/emotional needs as well as academics, and by creating real world learning opportunities for students. I'm proud to build a classroom that sees the students as whole people and creates as many openings for success as possible.

My Project

"Dear Martin" tells the story of a young Black man named Justyce McAllister as he tries to navigate hope for a bright future and not allow others to determine what his place will be in this world. Although he is an honor role student with great ambition he still is seen as a thug who is up to no good by cops, teachers, even some of his peers. He asks what world is possible and what dreams can he fulfill when it feels like so many people want to see him fail. He processes deep pain and great hope by writing undelivered letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This powerful and captivating novel is a critical read for my students.

Many of my young male students of color find themselves turned off to book reading. Offering them a book that focuses on their voice and mirrors their story will give them another door back into the world of literature. Not only that, but this book will give all of my students the opportunity to challenge the roles that society often places them in and dream up their own identity and society in a future they create. Through this book we will be analyzing how identity, challenging oppressive social structures, self-actualization, and goal-setting can help students determine their own future and the future of their community and society as a whole.

Ms. Weiss El Centro De Estudiantes High School Grades 9-12

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Ms. Weiss

Philadelphia, PA View local requests

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

60 students impacted 3donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
DEAR MARTIN • AKJ Education $13.13 51 $669.63

Materials cost

$669.63

Vendor shipping charges

 $6.00

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$10.04

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$715.67

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$126.29

Total project goal

$841.96

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $841.96

2 Donors

-$420.97

Donations toward project cost

-$357.83

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$63.14

match offer

-$420.99

Match offer toward project cost

-$357.84

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$63.15

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Weiss and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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