Back to School, Forward in Justice
Every August, students across San Francisco pack their backpacks and prepare for a new school year. For many, it’s a time of excitement: fresh pencils, new teachers, and a clean slate. But for the families we walk with at Because Justice Matters, the start of school often carries much more than supplies.
It carries the weight of trauma, the complexity of poverty, and the hope that this year might be different.
At BJM, we believe that education is more than just curriculum—it’s about restoring dignity and rebuilding opportunity. And that makes educational equity a justice issue.
🏁The Truth About the Starting Line
Not every student begins at the same place.
Some walk into class with tutors, stable housing, and summer enrichment. Others arrive carrying language barriers, undiagnosed learning needs, and the quiet ache of trauma that hasn’t been addressed.
This isn’t just an academic gap—it’s a systemic injustice.
Zip code, immigration status, and income level still determine the kind of education a child receives. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. That’s why we create consistent, trauma-informed spaces where girls and families can be seen, supported, and celebrated.
Because when a girl feels safe, she begins to believe. And when she believes in herself, anything is possible.
🤝 Mentorship That Walks With Her
The gap in education isn't just about grades—it’s about belonging and belief.
Many of the girls we serve face overwhelming challenges: translating for their parents, caring for younger siblings, being underestimated at every turn. Through SHINE, Azul, WildFlour, and more, our mentors walk alongside them—week after week—offering guidance, encouragement, and presence.
Mentorship says: You matter. You are not alone. You were made for more.
It’s one of the most powerful tools we have to break cycles of inequity.
🎁 Generosity That Shifts Atmosphere
This year, we were deeply moved by the generosity of our friends at @packpray, who donated over 90 backpacks filled with school supplies for our students.
But they didn’t stop there.
They surprised every mother with a personalized gift—reminding each one that she is worthy of celebration, not just survival. That kind of dignity-centered care is what makes the BJM community so powerful.
When a child enters school confident and prepared, and her mother feels seen and supported, we begin to disrupt cycles of invisibility and inequity.
🙏 A Prayer for the Year Ahead
As the school year begins, will you join us in prayer?
For students navigating trauma, transition, and academic pressure
For families balancing work, care, and cultural barriers
For teachers and school staff, especially in under-resourced neighborhoods
For systems to be transformed—not just patched, but made truly just
We pray not just for smooth transitions—but for holy disruption in places where injustice still lingers.