Community Learning Series
Join the Community Learning Series
Join our Community Learning Series to engage in meaningful conversations, connect with like-minded individuals, and work together toward environmental justice.
Throughout the year we host two-month long learning sessions based on a specific theme and book. Register now for our Fall Session starting on September 28th!
Registration is free and all are welcome!
Fall Session: Roots & Resistance
The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth.
— Indigenous Proverb
La Revo Books and Equitable Systems Consultants co-collaborate to present our Fall Community Learning Series: Roots & Resistance.
When we talk about social justice, we often focus on things like racism, police violence, or voting rights. But we don’t always talk about how the fight for justice is also connected to the earth.
The same systems that harm people — like colonialism, white supremacy, and patriarchy — also damage the environment, distort our relationship with it, and shape how we’re allowed to experience it. This Fall, we’ll examine those intersections and explore how our liberation is tied not only to one another, but also to our relationship with Mother Earth.
In honor of Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month, this session also centers the Indigenous teachings and environmental knowledge within the Latin American diaspora: “The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth.” We’ll talk about how we can reconnect with that wisdom and take real steps toward healing our communities and the earth.
The Community Learning Series hosts two-month long learning sessions throughout the year, each focused on a specific theme. Stay tuned for more information on our upcoming themes and sessions.
Fall Schedule
David Emmanuelle Castillo and Valeria Cerda will co-facilitate discussions around three children’s books.
We’ll discuss the readings and how we can apply what we’re learning through action. We’ll meet online on the following dates:
Sep 28, 6-7:30pm
Orientation
Oct 12, 6-7:15pm
Discussion 1: We Are Water Protectors | Somos Guardianes del Agua
Oct 26, 6-7:15pm
Discussion 2: 111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl
Nov 9, 6-7:15pm
Discussion 3: River of Mariposas | Río de Mariposas
About The Books
This session, we’re reading three powerful children’s books that explore themes of environmental justice, Indigenous land and water protection, and the deep connections between nature, identity, and resistance. These stories were chosen to spark reflection and discussion on how systems like patriarchy, colonialism, and capitalism shape our relationship with the Earth—and how reconnecting with land and community can be a source of healing, joy, and action.
Each book invites us to imagine a more just world while offering practical ways to engage young people in these conversations, too.
We Are Water Protectors | Somos Guardianes del Agua
111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl
River of Mariposas | Río de Mariposas
Meet the Facilitators
David Emmanuelle Castillo
Co-Facilitator
David Emmanuelle Castillo | Iztaccuauhtli (White Eagle) | Advocate for Young People | Anti-Racist | Aspiring Abolitionist | Bibliophile | Chicano! C/S Y Que! | Culturally Responsive & Sustaining Pedagogue | Critically Reflective Practitioner | Disruptor | Equity Warrior | Healer | Hopeful Romantic | Los Angeles, California (Born x Raised) | Lover of the Lolo Culture Esthetic | Nerdy/Intellectual Fool | PhD Candidate | Proud Carnal of La Unión Estudiantil de la Raza (UER) | Queer | SKY Schools Teacher
10+ Years Experience in Education: Certified & licensed Special Education Teacher, Founding Member for the Department of Black & Latino Male Achievement (BLMA), Co-Founder of the Coalition of Anti-Racist & Restorative Educators (CARE), Founder of Equitable Systems Consultants, Program Coach & B.E.L.I.E.F. Mentor for We Will All Rise, Cultivating Genius Coach for Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, Assistant Professor at Carthage College, and Curriculum & Pedagogy Co-Chair for The Xodus Maroon Collective.
“Creating a more just and equitable world starts with servant leadership that centers the voices of those most marginalized and oppressed.”
6 years engaging in self-work: Using a variety of tools that include breathwork, meditation, journaling + writing, being in ceremony, and consumption of plant medicine. His self-work has the explicit intention of unpacking the ways ideologies centering whiteness and machismo (patriarchy) have kept him from being in touch with ancestral wisdom, his own humanity and the humanity of others as well.
“Breathwork and meditation are accessible tools that help us in overcoming our EGO ‘Edging God Out’ so that we are not in touch with our own divinity & humanity.”
Valeria Cerda
Co-Facilitator
Valeria Cerda is a daughter of Milwaukee and its South Side. Her and her sister, Barbara Cerda co founded and co-own La Revo Books (est 2021), Wisconsin’s only bookstore specializing in Latinx literature and their community program, Barby the Book Fairy, giving out free and empowering literature. They come from a working class and immigrant background which informs their values as bookstore owners and sellers.
When she isn’t running La Revo Books, she spends time making the South Side of Milwaukee a better place, spending lots of time with family and getting out the vote in communities of color. She hopes to inspire conversations about history and identity because our very own existences are revolutionary.
Sponsors & Partners
We’re grateful for the organizations and individuals who are supporting our Fall Community Learning Series: Roots & Resistance.
Participation Guidelines
To ensure everyone gets the most out of this experience, we ask all participants to follow these guidelines.
Keep a Safe Space
It’s important that everyone feels safe in the space we’re creating. Be mindful of how your comments impact others. Harmful and disrespectful comments or actions will be addressed.
Maintain Confidentiality
This is a personal experience for you and everyone participating. You agree to keep all conversations confidential, and respect your fellow community members and their thoughts regardless of where they are at in this work.
Have an Open Mind
We encourage you to keep an open mind and step out of your comfort zone when participating in the discussions. The more you do so, the more you’ll get out of this experience.
Attend Each Discussion
Group learning allows for richer discussions and deeper understanding of complex topics. Make it a priority to attend each discussion so you and others receive this benefit.
Take Regular Action
It is not enough to learn about racism, systems of oppression, and environmental injustices. We must take action against them. We encourage you to commit to taking at least one action every two weeks.
Move at Your Own Pace
This isn’t a race to finish the books. It is perfectly fine to move faster or slower through the books than others. Keep attending the discussions and contribute from wherever you are.
Register Today!
Join our Community Learning Series to engage in meaningful conversations, connect with like-minded individuals, and work together toward lasting change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Community Learning Series?
The Community Learning Series is a series of two-month long learning sessions. During each session we read a selected book together to explore systems of oppression and take collective action.
Through facilitated group discussions, we’ll create a shared understanding of the concepts in the book, connect the material to current issues, apply what we’ve learned to create impact, and deepen our engagement with local action and initiatives. Learn more here.
Where can I get the books?
If you can, we encourage you to buy the books from a local bookstore to support the author and small businesses. La Revo Books has all of the books available here through their Bookshop.org store. Place your order by 10/2/25 to have them in time for the first discussion.
You can also visit your local library to borrow the books. Please let us know if you’re having difficulty getting a copy of the books. We’ll do what we can to help!
Do I need to read anything before the orientation?
Nope! You’re welcome to get started, but we won’t be discussing the readings during the orientation. We’ll spend time introducing ourselves, the Community Learning Series, and getting to know one another.
What am I committing to when I sign up?
When you join in, you are committing to attending the orientation, the three facilitated discussions, and taking one action from each of the Collective Action Alerts.
The orientation and discussions are bi-weekly. The orientation is from 6-7:30pm and the discussions are from 6-7:15pm. We understand if you cannot attend the whole time, but please make it a priority to attend as much of the discussion that you can – meaningful and consistent participation from all members is necessary to ensure greater discussion of the topics we are focusing on.
What are Collective Action Alerts?
Collective Action Alerts are bi-weekly emails that include three suggested actions we can take in our community. Actions range from signing petitions, attending events, spreading awareness, etc.
Through Collective Action Alerts we act in unison, work towards environmental justice, and target our collective power to support the needs of the community.
Who can join?
The conversations are adult-focused, but all are welcome to participate.
Still have questions?
Reach out to us with any questions.