FAIR News: Welcoming Jonathan Haidt to the Board of Advisors

Newsletter

Dear Friends of FAIR,

I am thrilled to announce our newest advisory board member: social psychologist, Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University Stern School of Business, founder of Heterodox Academy, and gifted author Jonathan Haidt.

If there is anyone who can explain the zeitgeist of our times, and the impact of social media on our discourse and culture, it is Jon. Last year, a month or two after launching FAIR, and in the midst of the Covid pandemic, my wife and I were invited to join a small in-person event to discuss possible solutions to the growing illiberalism and intolerance that had affected my kids school, and other K-12 schools across the country. I was there to try to make sense of what had happened, and how to solve this problem, and Jon was one of the few people offering answers that made sense.

Over the past two years as I have worked to establish FAIR as a much-needed civil rights organization, Jon has been helpful and supportive, and encouraged me every step of the way.

Below is Jon’s statement on why he signed up to join FAIR’s Board of Advisors:

The first 50 years of my life, from 1963 to 2013, were the greatest period of social progress and the extension of rights and inclusion in human history. Progressives should have been celebrating success and vowing to continue on toward the fulfillment of Martin Luther King's dream. Instead, because of changes to social media platforms in the early 2010s, new, terrible, and illiberal ideas flooded into universities, and from there to the rest of our institutions. I co-founded Heterodox Academy to push back against illiberalism in universities. I joined FAIR's advisory board because FAIR is pushing back everywhere else.

I am deeply grateful to Jon for his support of FAIR and our mission of advancing civil rights and liberties for all Americans, and promoting a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity.

Welcome to the team, Jon—thank you for joining the pro-human movement!

Yours,
Bion

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Bion Bartning
bion@fairforall.org

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Glenn Loury: The Spiral of Silence in Social Justice

In our latest video, FAIR Advisor Glenn Loury explains the spiral of silence in social justice using the analogy of the fairytale The Emperor's New Clothes.

Though censorship is often spoken of as the leading threat to open discourse, the more subtle threat is the voluntary limitation of one’s own speech, creating a spiral of silence...[but] with just a little bit of bravery, you can choose to be the child who spoke truth to the Emperor...

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Want to help advance civil rights and liberties for all, and promote a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity? Sign up for a free subscription today!

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FAIR Summer Internship Program

Applications are now open for our full-time summer internship program for highly motivated and open-minded undergraduate students.

Ideal candidates value curiosity, compassion, and courage, have excellent communication and leadership skills, and show a passion for FAIR’s pro-human values and vision. This internship provides students with real-world experience in a nonpartisan, dynamic, and mission-driven organization, while also empowering students to become ambassadors for FAIR’s mission. See what Summer 2022 Interns have to say about their experience below.

The internship is fully remote, except for an in-person orientation during the first week of the internship. Over the course of the internship, interns attend weekly all-hands meetings and work with a specific team to assist with new and ongoing projects. As a cohort, interns attend lunch & learns and seminars with thought leaders who promote our pro-human mission. Interns are expected to return to campus with a plan for bringing FAIR’s mission and approach to their respective colleges and universities.

HOW TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD | JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 2, 2023

You care about your kids and your community, we get it! So do we. Join FAIR in partnership with the Grassroots Leadership Academy for a 4-session, training experience to empower you to roll up your sleeves and run for school board (or effectively organize your community for someone you want to run for school board). This training experience is four, 90 minute sessions over four days, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET each day. This training is great for those of you who want to run and your core supporters alike. Together you will learn in:

Session 1 on January 30 – How to become the candidate and set yourself up for success

Session 2 on January 31 – How to communicate your why and connect with the whys of those in your district

Session 3 on February 1 – How to create a messaging plan and stay on message no matter what

Session 4 on February 2 – How to talk to voters and raise money

Clinical Guide for Therapists Working With Gender Questioning Youth

GETA's Clinical Guide was written by therapists who have worked extensively with LGBT clients. GETA believes that a psychological approach should be the first line of treatment for psychological distress. Our guide offers an alternative to a gender affirming approach, putting forth an accessible, practical framework for clinicians. There is a need for therapists who validate the client as a whole person and who can facilitate an open-ended exploration rather than applying a one-size-fits-all treatment model. Many clinicians want to offer this type of therapeutic process, but may need guidance in how to achieve this stance amidst the contentious landscape. GETA's Clinical Guide is rooted in established and evidence-based psychotherapeutic traditions.

This webinar will provide a brief overview to the Clinical Guide and we’ll offer case examples and a discussion on working through common issues that arise in therapy with gender-questioning youth. Since this will be a webinar format, your attendance at this event will be anonymous.

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FAIR News Podcast

For audio versions of our FAIR News and FAIR Weekly Roundup newsletters, subscribe and listen to FAIR News Weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or via RSS feed.

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FAIR Pro-Human Tour: Occidental College

Featuring Daryl Davis, Winston Marshall, Bion Bartning, Kimi Katiti, Salomé Sibonex, Bertrand Cooper, and John Wood Jr.!

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Join the Pro-Human Movement With FAIR Merch!

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FAIR Educators Alliance & Administrators Alliance Happy Hours

Teachers often feel isolated and alone in their schools, but FAIR is here for you! The FAIR Educators Alliance brings together educators from all levels to share experiences and concerns and work on developing resources that can support teachers, community members, and FAIR chapters.

FAIR’s Educator’s Alliance is hosting an informal happy hour every other Thursday evening, alternating between beginning at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET, and will hold more formal monthly meetings that will address issues based on your interests and needs.

If you’re a K-12 school administrator, we’re here to support you too! You’re invited to join the FAIR Administrators Alliance, which holds meetings the last Thursday of every month at 1:00 p.m. ET!

All teachers and administrators are welcome! For more information and to subscribe to the calendar, reach out to educators@fairforall.org.

Calling all FAIR Member Librarians and Library Staff! FAIR has established a network for members to connect and discuss key issues affecting their profession, advance pro-human principles, and preserve academic freedoms in library systems. The group meets biweekly.

Please contact tanya.simons@fairforall.org if you are interested in joining!

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Join the FAIR Community

Become a FAIR volunteer or join a FAIR chapter:

Join a Welcome to FAIR Zoom information session to learn more about our mission, or watch a previously recorded session in the Members section of www.fairforall.org.

• Take the Pro-Human Pledge and help promote a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity.

• Join the FAIR community to connect and share information with other members.

• Share your reviews and incident reports on our FAIR Transparency website.

• View our FAIRstory Learning Standards.