School Libraries are perfectly positioned to ensure that social justice has a place in our students' lives. I sat down with our incredible Social Justice Leader, Evelyn Stirrup, and was truly floored by the level of passion and drive she has for celebrating diversity in all its forms, feminism, gender-equality, climate justice, and more. Evelyn has taken time to research different social justice issues to be aware of the wider context.

When asked what she would like to achieve in her role as Social Justice Leader, Evelyn reflects, “I would like to achieve visibility for the position of Social Justice Leader and make tackling Social Justice issues more prevalent in society. I personally follow a ‘Three E’ structure: education, empowerment and engagement. This framework guides my work within the position. I hope to achieve a school where people are actively engaged and involved in making changes in the school and wider community.” This powerfully expressed goal is worthy of all our support.

So, what inspired Evelyn to take this both challenging and fulfilling role of Social Justice Leader? “I was inspired to become the Social Justice Leader for numerous reasons. Most notably my belief that Social Justice Leader should be the most active and visible leadership position in the school, something it has not been in the past and one of the goals I want to achieve this year. I am also extremely passionate about social justice and believe that all people deserve equality, justice and acceptance in society. And finally, I hope to spread my passion for social justice, leadership and public speaking to others, enabling them to feel empowered and heard in the school community.”

When asked what social justice issues Evelyn is particularly interested in, she explains, “I am most passionate about feminism and gender equality. Not only for women but also those who are transgender, non-Binary and other members of the LGBTIQA+ community. I am also an advocate for climate justice and making small sustainable changes to be more gentle on our planet.” What led Evelyn down this path of social justice? “Being an avid reader and part of the book community has assisted me in becoming more connected to social justice as it has opened my eyes to the experiences of different people from minority groups. Reading and buying physical books also helps to support diverse, minority authors and provide them with a larger voice and audience in the world. People have a lot to say in the books they write, and many books contain a string of underlying messages of social justice issues and their importance.”

So how does Evelyn see the Library’s role in advocating for social justice? “The Library is connected to social justice as books are a resource for education and empowerment. When an individual reads about a book character that they relate to they feel both seen and heard, represented in the world and listened to by the books readers. By reading a diverse range of books from different people, including people from diverse cultural backgrounds and members of the LGBTIQA+ community a reader can become more empathetic and better understand the challenges that minority groups face.” We at the Library could not agree more; reading widely and deeply leads to a more compassionate, kind, caring and culturally aware community.

We reflected on the barriers that we face when taking the path of social justice advocacy. When asked what Evelyn believes can be the obstacles to becoming a social justice advocate, and how can we remedy this, she explains, “Two of the biggest barriers to becoming a social justice advocate is accessibility to change-making causes, and also educational barriers.

“As social justice issues are not often taught widely and in depth in schools, many people are unaware of them, their importance and their relevance. My best remedy for this is setting aside a small amount of time, such as half an hour, each week to research a social justice issue you have heard about and do not know much about or are passionate about and want to know more.” This is such an accessible and powerful nugget of wisdom that would significantly bolster the ‘education’ component of the ‘Three E’ model for social justice Evelyn outlined earlier.

“Another barrier to becoming a social justice advocate,” Evelyn continues, “is a lack of voice. Many people feel as though they do not have a voice in society. Many people do not have a large audience or big platform that they can use to help raise awareness of social justice issues and feel like they have a place to tell their story and share their opinion. I recommend remedying this by starting small, start discussions within your friend and family groups on social justice issues, why they are important and what they mean to you. And go from there, pursue leadership opportunities such as Social Justice Leader or Environment Leader and attend the groups that are set up in school within each of the leadership fields. And most importantly remember a small change by you is better than no change by you.”

With this level of insight, that many people spend a lifetime trying to gain, it is clear to see the impact reading diverse literature has had on Evelyn’s emotional intelligence. She is empathetic, caring, highly intelligent and equipped with a powerful voice. We look forward to all getting behind Evelyn and her mission campaigning for social justice issues and are excited for her journey into the future. We are sure Evelyn will, with her passion and knowledge, inspire many students to take up the noble path of social justice advocacy.

Siana Einfeld – Teacher Librarian