nataliya braginsky

The theme for my 10th grade English class will be “on being human.” We’re reading Sula, Parable of the Sower, There, There, and Macbeth. Seeking short texts (poetry, essays, short stories, etc) to read during the first week to introduce the theme. Drop your favorite on being human texts please!

Four stickers against a pink background: 1) “we are born in flames” written against fire, 2) two arms clutching one another with “your risk is my risk” etched upon them, 3) a woman in a bathtub with the words “my home is not your asset” written on the tub, 4) an apartment building with a fire escape and clothesline, tomato and sunflower plant, and residents waving to each other, reading “tenants built this city”

The BORN IN FLAMES stickers are here and they’re beautiful! Made in collaboration with my dear friend, Jenna Peters-Golden, + an original by Mary Tremonte
@justseeds.bsky.social, these will be sent to you free if you order BORN IN FLAMES by Aug 19th and submit here: tinyurl.com/4nx7rcv8

Folks, you are going to want to read this book that is already really well reviewed!!!

Excited to announce a sticker giveaway for BORN IN FLAMES. Preorder by 8/19, fill out this form, and receive 4 beautiful stickers for free!!

Art made in collaboration with Jenna Peters-Golden + a Mary Tremonte original @justseeds.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/4nx7rcv8

This new policy basically means all immigrants have no due process rights and can be detained indefinitely. Once again like the student detentions and like CECOT, the Trump administration is using immigration detention, which both parties built up, as a testing ground for its authoritarianism...

This is the one that breaks it. What even is the point of Congress if the legislature can pass a budget but the executive doesn’t have to follow it? We officially don’t have three branches anymore. We have a solitary tyrant.

I am sitting in front of flower garden holding a copy of my new book, BORN IN FLAMES.

First book, first garden! Just got my author copies of BORN IN FLAMES, out from @wwnorton.com on August 19th.

How do I teach if parents can opt students out of knowing that I exist?

'It's a Killing Field': IDF Soldiers Ordered to Shoot Deliberately at Unarmed Gazans Waiting for Humanitarian Aid IDF officers and soldiers told Haaretz they were ordered to fire at unarmed crowds near food distribution sites in Gaza, even when no threat was present. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, prompting the military prosecution to call for a review into possible war crimes

IDF soldiers have now themselves admitted they have been ordered to murder aid-seekers in Gaza.

Truly an atrocity built on atrocity.

www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Let’s do Philly next!

Today is a particularly good day to support trans mutual aid as a concrete way to fight back against the fuckers trying to take their healthcare and other rights away.

🧵 of a few groups, campaigns, and individuals you can donate to:

In light of SCOTUS's ruling in Skrmetti, @brittneymac15.bsky.social asked doctors what trans youth and their families need to know about navigating this. @teenvogue.com

experts advise continuing to talk to affirming healthcare providers if you have them and exploring options for care out-of-state.

hi, cis folks!

the senate budget bill is out & this version still contains a prohibition against lifesaving trans healthcare for medicaid/CHIP—that's 275,000 people!

if you're willing to stand with trans folks, please call your senators—no matter who. follow the thread for context & scripts.🧵

🚨 ALERTA PHILLY 🚨

Hearing from a very credible local source that there may be ICE action tomorrow (Sunday 6/8) in the following areas:

5th and Washington Ave
7th and Snyder Ave
5th and McKean/Wolf
Chinatown

Let your neighbors know to stay safe and be vigilant. Be ready. Be water.

Donate to From Homelessness to My First Apartment, organized by Dameon-Malik Dillard I was homeless for 3 years... from couch hopping to motel floors to shelt… Dameon-Malik Dillard needs your support for From Homelessness to My First Apartment

A former student of mine is getting on his feet working as a special education paraprofessional in the same district he graduated from. We all know paras deserve higher pay. Please help Dame out if you can and/or share his request for support. www.gofundme.com/f/from-homel...

The Trans Journalists Association urges caution in covering the HHS report on gender care With the recent release of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report on gender-related medical care for trans youth, the Trans Journalists Association urges newsrooms and journalists repor...

The Trans Journalists Association, which I am a member of, put out a statement urging caution in covering the HHS report on gender care for children. www.transjournalists.org/2025-hhs-rep...

My 9th and 10th graders use this word regularly.

BORN IN FLAMES | Kirkus Reviews The Bronx was burning. Insurers and landlords supplied the fuel.

A "young historian’s superlative debut" says this starred review of my book from Kirkus. It's the first (!) review of my book and ofc I'm over here rejoicing in the idea that somebody still thinks I'm young

www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

The people of Sackets Harbor—and especially the school administrators and teachers—should be an example for us all that when Trump's goons come knocking, telling them HELL NO can work.

You do not need to comply in advance. These fascist fucks are powerful but not invincible.

A protest in front of Philadelphia City Hall. Many people gathered, in the center a nun holds a handwritten sign that reads, HANDS OFF ALL TRANS PEOPLE!

The Hands Off rally in Philly today was one of the biggest protest I’ve ever been to. This photo in front of City Hall is the energy we need. Hands off all trans people! Thank you to the sister holding this sign and to person who snapped this pic.

Standing on Principals - Lux Magazine New Haven students make their own restorative justice process.

“If schools are powerful enough to lay a pipeline to prison, then we can build a school-to-abolition pipeline instead.” My latest for @readlux.bsky.social about creating a youth justice panel alongside fellow New Haven public school
teachers + our incredible students lux-magazine.com/article/scho...

hi, cis folks!

if we *are* going to talk ACA, RFK's HHS proposed a rule to remove *all trans care* from ACA essential health benefit status.

~25mil people are insured by ACA & if 1% are trans, that's 250,000 people who'd lose access to care.

that's bad! take 2 minutes to stand with trans people.🧵

every cis person who's asked me "what can i do?" here's something u can do. guides to writing the comments are enclosed. this is huge. send it to everyone u know, have them comment as well

Israel has launched a new ground invasion into Gaza after breaking ceasefire Israel's military launched a new ground offensive in Gaza, sending troops into areas they retreated from during a two-month ceasefire. This comes a day after airstrikes killed more than 400 people.

www.npr.org/2025/03/19/n...

Seeking films about the Palmer Raids to show my 10th grade US history class. Any recs?

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 800,000+ federal and D.C. workers (i.e. people directly impacted by a government shutdown), is urging senators to vote no on the House GOP's CR.

In other words, AFGE is saying a government shutdown is less bad than this GOP bill.

Chart: U.S. adults reporting a disability The number of people reporting a disability soared. Many Americans struggled with long Covid and reported cognitive issues like “brain fog.” Source: Census Here, adults refer to people older than 16.

Since the start of COVID, the number of people reporting a disability soared. Yet the majority of the world acts like COVID is over, and Long COVID doesn't exist.

Graphic featuring the Philly skyline and PFT and AFT logos with text reading: What Philly schools could lose $178M in Title 1 funding $56M in funding for special education $7M for career & technical education $86M for school meals On March 4th, we fight back!

PFT members will be outside of Philly public schools sharing info with our communities before AM bell & after PM bell on March 4th. Pick up some flyers & help inform your neighbors! www.mobilize.us/mobilize/eve... #PHLed #ProtectOurKids

Creating a New Deal role play for my 10th grade US History class so students can assess how different groups were impacted disparately by New Deal programs. Which groups should I include? So far: Black tenant farmers, bankers, artists, labor organizers, domestic workers, unemployed white men.