The Opportunity Agenda

Tuskegee Syphilis Study
2025-07-24
On this day in 1972, the Washington Star broke the story of the unethical Tuskegee Syphilis Study conducted on 600 African-American sharecroppers. The exposure led to fundamental changes in medical research. Use this anniversary to underscore the importance of media coverage about people living in poverty and how systemic racism impacts healthcare outcomes in Black and brown communities. Cite the values of equity and community.

Emma Lazarus
2025-07-22
Poet Emma Lazarus was born on this day in 1849. Her poem “The New Colossus” is inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty and is frequently quoted in the immigration debate. How we treat people arriving at our borders speaks volumes about the values that define our nation’s laws. Use this hook to talk about the importance of welcoming immigrants and refugees and refer to the values of community, safety, and opportunity.

Mattachine Society
2025-07-20
On this day in 1951, the Mattachine Society formally organized and ratified its “Missions and Purposes” as a California corporation. The organization was one of the earliest LGBTQ activist organizations in the United States. Uplift this anniversary by citing the values of voice and equity.

Eric Garner
2025-07-17
On this day in 2014, New York City police officers killed Eric Garner for selling single cigarettes. He was put in a chokehold which resulted in his death. Garner was recorded saying, “I can’t breathe,” which has remained a rallying cry against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd. Honor Garner and discuss policing and racial justice issues by citing the values of voice, equity, and safety.

Ida B. Wells
2025-07-16
On this day in 1862, Ida B. Wells was born. Wells founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was a pioneering journalist, one of the first to investigate lynchings across the United States. Use her birthday as a hook to discuss the importance of working for racial and economic justice. Cite the values of economic opportunity, equity, and voice.

Sandra Bland
2025-07-13
On this day in 2015, Sandra Bland mysteriously died in police custody. Days earlier she was arrested for a minor traffic violation by Texas state troopers. Cell phone footage from her phone, released years after her death, renewed questions regarding the officer’s testimony. On this anniversary, discuss the values of equity and safety.

To Kill a Mockingbird
2025-07-11
On this day in 1960, the American classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, was published. The book focused on racial inequality and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. Use this anniversary to talk about the need for writers and other artists to challenge injustice. Refer to the values of voice and community.

Niagara Movement
2025-07-11
On July 11, 1905, W.E.B Du Bois and William Monroe Trotter gathered Black leaders and launched the Niagara Movement, one of the organizations that paved the way for the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The convening met at Niagara Falls, in Ontario, Canada, because hotels on the U.S. side of the falls barred Black people. Among their platform’s demands was the abolition of all caste distinctions based on race or color. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of voice and equity.

14th Amendment Ratified
2025-07-09
On this day in 1868, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted citizenship and rights to African Americans and formerly enslaved people. It also forms the basis of “birthright citizenship” for children of non-citizen immigrants. Use this anniversary to discuss the ongoing struggle for civil and immigrant rights by citing the values of equity, community, and voice.

Philando Castile
2025-07-06
On this day in 2016, Philando Castile was killed by Minnesota police officer Jeronime Yanez during a routine traffic stop. Castile’s girlfriend recorded the encounter while her infant daughter sat in the back seat. On this anniversary, discuss the ongoing need to end police brutality using the values of safety and equity.

Frida Kahlo
2025-07-06
On this day in 1907, the pioneering artist and activist Frida Kahlo was born. Today her iconic work and image are shared as examples of politically engaged art and unapologetic self-expression. Use this hook to talk about the role of artists in social justice activism. Cite the values of voice and community.

Alton Sterling
2025-07-05
On this day in 2016, Alton Sterling was fatally shot several times at close range by Baton Rouge Police Department officers. Sterling had been selling CDs in a parking lot. His death was video recorded by several bystanders. On this anniversary, honor Alton by lifting up his life and discussing the values of safety and equity.

Independence Day
2025-07-04
As the birthday of the United States of America, Independence Day is yet another opportunity to raise the values we believe our nation should embody for everyone: opportunity, voice, equity, community, and safety. Also remind audiences about the importance of land acknowledgment and the ongoing work to repair the harms of colonization on Indigenous peoples.

Civil Rights Act of 1964
2025-07-02
On this day, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the landmark civil rights and labor law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Use this anniversary to reaffirm the values of voice, economic opportunity, and community.

National Postal Worker Day
2025-07-01
On this day in 1997, Seattle-area postal workers organized the first National Postal Worker Day. From the COVID-19 pandemic to mail-in voting, recent events revealed how much we — and our democracy — depends on the essential labor of postal carriers and delivery workers. Cite the values of voice, community, and economic opportunity on this day.

Trump's Family Separation Policy
2025-06-30
On this day in 2018, activists organized nationwide protests in opposition to the Trump administration’s family separation policy, which separated countless immigrant children from their parents and shed light on cruel practices that existed before and endured beyond Trump. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of safety, equity, and community.

Furman v. Georgia
2025-06-29
On this day in 1972, the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty, ruling in Furman v. Georgia that it was unconstitutional under the 8th and 14th Amendments. Justice William O. Douglas concluded that the death penalty “is disproportionately imposed and carried out on the poor, the Negro, and the members of unpopular groups.” Four years later, the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty on the idea that it was constitutional under the 8th Amendment. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of equity, safety, voice, and community.

Stonewall Uprising
2025-06-28
Today is the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a key turning point in the struggle for LGBTQIA+ rights. Use the anniversary to discuss the importance of intersectionality in our movements and the ongoing work to achieve racial and economic justice in the LGBTQIA+ community. Cite the values of safety, opportunity, community, and voice.

Bree Newsome
2025-06-27
On this day in 2015, activist Bree Newsome removed the Confederate battle flag after climbing the flagpole in front of the South Carolina Capitol building. Confederate flags and monuments honoring the Confederacy remain in cities and communities across the United States and serve as flashpoints in our national reckoning with slavery and racial injustice. Cite the values of community, voice, safety, and equity when discussing this hook.

Muslim Ban
2025-06-26
On this day in 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the third iteration of President Trump’s “Muslim Ban.” Previously, lower federal courts had found each iteration to be blatantly anti-Muslim, unconstitutional, and an abuse of the president’s power. Although the Biden Administration rescinded Trump’s order, this date remains important given the persistence of anti-Muslim discrimination. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of voice, equity, and community.

The G.I. Bill
2025-06-22
On this day in 1944, President Truman signed the G.I. Bill. As a result, thousands of World War II veterans were able to apply for funds for college education, unemployment insurance, and housing loans. However, less than 2% of these mortgages went to people of color. This is a good time to talk about the important role government can play in creating economic opportunities for everyone. Cite the values of equity and community.

World Refugee Day
2025-06-20
Recognized annually on this day, World Refugee Day commemorates the strength, courage, and perseverance of millions of refugees. From the impacts of climate change to fleeing violence, connect this international observance to what’s happening in the United States and across the world. Cite the values of community, safety, and opportunity when discussing this.

Juneteenth
2025-06-19
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Americans gained their freedom in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today’s celebrations provide the opportunity to discuss the enduring legacies of racial injustice. Join the conversation, citing the values of opportunity, equity, voice, and community.

Father's Day
2025-06-15
Father’s Day is an important time to talk about racial justice and economic opportunity with your community. The separation of immigrant families, impacts of discriminatory policing and mass incarceration, and cultural attacks on LGBTQ+ communities can make this a hard and heavy day for many. Talk about the need to protect family unity and inclusively celebrate all families on this date. Focus on the values of opportunity, safety, and equity.

Plyler v. Doe
2025-06-15
On this day in 1982, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Plyler v. Doe that states could not deny public education to students who were not legally admitted into the country. Doing so, they said, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Since the ruling only applied to K-12 students, other court cases and legislation made it possible for some states to deny undocumented students access to in-state tuition, scholarships, or enrollment at public colleges and universities. Cite the values of voice, equity, and community on this date.

DACA Announced by Pres. Obama
2025-06-15
On this day in 2012, President Obama announced the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that allows those who arrived as children — many of whom know no homeland other than the United States — to live and contribute to their communities without fear of deportation. Advocates continue to call on Congress to create a permanent solution for DACA recipients and their families. For information on the status of the program, follow the National Immigration Law Center and United We Dream. Discuss this anniversary by referring to the values of voice, community, and opportunity.

"Miranda rights"
2025-06-13
On this day in 1966, the Supreme Court issued its decision on Ernesto Miranda vs. Arizona. The ruling created what became known as “Miranda rights,” the law enforcement procedure of reminding someone of their rights when being arrested. Use this anniversary to discuss the importance of criminal justice reform by referring to the values of equity, safety, and voice.

Reagan's Berlin Wall Speech
2025-06-12
On this day in 1987, President Ronald Reagan gave his famous “Tear Down this Wall” speech in Berlin. Although Reagan was addressing the Communist bloc, it’s worth noting that this Republican president publicly challenged the idea of using walls to separate or isolate people, stating, “The wall cannot withstand freedom.” Use this anniversary to talk about the needs of U.S.-Mexico border communities and how wall rhetoric and militarization threatens safety and freedom for the millions who call the region home or arrive seeking protection. Cite the values of opportunity, safety, and community.

Loving Day
2025-06-12
Loving Day celebrates the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court decision on the case of Loving v. Virginia, which struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage. In 2022, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which codified the federal government’s recognition and respect of both same-sex and interracial marriages. This legislation passed in response to SCOTUS’ decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which raised concern that other landmark cases would be threatened. Use the anniversary to talk about racial justice with the values of equity and voice.

Griswold v. Connecticut
2025-06-07
On this day in 1965, the Supreme Court upheld the “right of marital privacy” in the case of Griswold v. Connecticut, which ensured access to contraception. The case provided precedent for the court to legalize abortion in the Roe v. Wade case eight years later. The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overrule Roe also raised concern about how the right to privacy might be further threatened in other landmark decisions. When discussing the intersecting harms of the political attacks on reproductive freedom, remember to advance narratives of full rights and justice for everyone, especially those living in poverty and Black, brown, and Indigenous communities. Cite the values of opportunity and equity.
