August 16, 2019
August 17, 2019

Paradise, in rural Northern California, and El Paso, Texas, are linked together by a common thread of tragedies – one by fire, the other by gunfire. In both places, schools must cope with the anxiety of children who experienced trauma directly or fear what might happen next.

This week, we speak with Michelle John, the new superintendent of Paradise Unified, about how the district is preparing for the emotional needs of students on their return to school. Through a remarkable effort, the district’s buildings have been renovated; counselors and teachers are ready for the psychological scars that are harder to spot.

We also interview Fernando Garcia, founding director of the Border Network for Human Rights in El Paso, about the existential threat to Latino and immigrant communities that a white supremacist shooter exposed. Compounded by worries over federal deportation raids, immigrant families in California share their anxiety.

For more, see the following articles: