Boston’s District 7—spanning Roxbury, parts of Dorchester, the South End, and Fenway—is the epicenter of culture, history, and community resilience. Yet today, our values and our children’s education are under threat. As your next City Councilor, I am committed to defending the right of our students to learn their full history—especially as federal policies move to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide.
With President Trump’s Executive Order 14190 banning what it labels “radical indoctrination” in K–12 schooling and threatening to defund schools that teach ethnic studies or Afro-Latinx history, we face a clear and urgent choice: surrender to erasure or stand firm in truth.
The Stakes: What We Risk Losing
Ethnic studies are not “radical.” They are factual. Afro-Latinx history is not political propaganda. It is American history. These programs:
Increase academic engagement and graduation rates for marginalized students.
Reduce discipline disparities and improve school climate.
Empower students of all backgrounds to think critically and develop empathy.
To strip this away is not only educational malpractice—it is an attack on the identity, dignity, and future of our youth.
If I am elected as your City Councilor, I will:
Introduce legislation to fund and protect ethnic studies at the municipal level within Boston’s District 7
James Grant
What District 7 Must Do
In the face of federal pressure, District 7 must mobilize at the local level to protect inclusive, truthful education. Here’s what that looks like:
1. Municipal Funding Protection
Create a City Council Resolution affirming Boston’s commitment to inclusive education, rejecting censorship, and calling on state legislators to reinforce local control over curriculum.
Establish a Local Education Equity Fund to support ethnic studies through city appropriations and private partnerships, insulating it from federal defunding threats.
2. Curriculum Reframing and Legal Strategy
Work with education experts to reframe ethnic studies courses as local cultural history or humanities programs—maintaining substance while minimizing legal targeting.
Partner with civil rights organizations to challenge Executive Order 14190 in court on First Amendment and states’ rights grounds.
3. School Autonomy and Community Design
Empower local school leaders, teachers, and families to co-design culturally relevant programs that align with Boston’s history and values.
Launch a District 7 Cultural Heritage Curriculum Project, uplifting the stories of Black, Afro-Caribbean, Latino, and immigrant communities from our own neighborhoods.
4. Public Engagement and Messaging
Mobilize families, educators, students, and faith leaders to publicly support inclusive education and organize against threats of censorship.
Ensure all materials and advocacy efforts are multilingual and accessible, reflecting the district’s diversity.
My Role as City Councilor
As your City Councilor, I will:
Introduce legislation to fund and protect ethnic studies at the municipal level.
Convene a District 7 Inclusive Education Advisory Board made up of educators, parents, students, and cultural leaders.
Work with BPS, the Boston Teachers Union, and state officials to ensure local autonomy in education policy.
Push for legal defense resources for any Boston school staff targeted under new federal mandates.
Why This Fight Matters
District 7 has always been at the forefront of resistance, resilience, and rebirth. Our children deserve to see themselves reflected in the curriculum. They deserve to know the contributions of Frederick Douglass, Lolita Lebrón, Malcolm X, and countless unsung heroes who shaped Boston and the world.
We will not allow today’s politics to erase centuries of truth.
We are prepared. We are united. And we will fight for education that liberates, not indoctrinates.
Donate to My Campaign and Join us in this fight.