This Week in Wizard Activism: Take Part in Our Hero Training!

By Daniel Lytle

Graphic of our This Week in Wizard Activism logo! It features the words “This Week in Wizard Activism” and our logo on a blue background.

It’s September, and something magical is happening. Trees are beginning to try on their new autumnal wardrobes, pumpkin spice has returned from its summer vacation, and, earlier this week, the Hogwarts Express carried excited young witches and wizards from King’s Cross to Hogsmeade Station. As fall approaches, the HPA is bustling with activity, so let’s dive right into this week’s update.

A gif of the Hogwarts Express getting ready to leave the station.

Magical Marathon Medals Meticulously Mailed

Once again, congratulations to the over 600 racers who participated in the HPA’s House Cup Marathon this year. Medals will be shipping this week, so keep an eye out for an important owl post delivery. Once your medal arrives, don’t forget to snap a picture and tag us on Twitter or Instagram @theHPAlliance!

Hero Training is a Hit!

An image of our Wizard Activist School logo, featuring a wand and round glasses below a lightning bolt.

Last month, the HPA held its first-ever IRL Hero Training session at the Queens Library in New York. In this exciting new workshop, teens and librarians brainstormed new ways to use Fan Activism in their community using Pokemon, HP, Attack on Titan and more. Hero Training is a new initiative where organizations can bring tailored HPA trainings and a facilitator to their organization. Keep an eye on our website for more info coming soon, but for now interested groups can email us!

Even if you can’t make it to an in-person Hero Training, with the HPA’s fantastic training resources, school is always in session for wizard activists looking to up their game. As of this week, 161 wonderful people have participated in Wizard Activist School [link], the HPA’s FREE and comprehensive online training program for folks at any stage of their activism careers. This resource is seriously incredible, and I highly recommend you take some time to check it out. You can pick and choose learning modules to fit your needs and even earn certificates in six key skill areas.

Keepin’ it Cool in Kanas City

A screenshot of a tweet from the KC Keepers! The tweet features images of the members writing letters and close-ups of a letter. The tweet reads: “Tonight we wrote some positive owl post to the North Kansas City School District for building gender neutral restrooms in their new schools. Often being an activist is yelling about the bad stuff, so it was great being able to encourage a group for doing something good.”

This week, the HPA’s Kansas City Keepers chapter [link] met to write thank-you letters to the North Kansas City School District for installing gender-neutral restrooms in their new schools. With so many important letters begging politicians to stop doing terrible things these days, it’s certainly refreshing to be see some positive letters after this positive change for students in Kansas City.

What’s Happening in the Wider Wizarding World?

An image from the Manchester Pride Parade featuring #LWithTheT supporters, featuring people holding signs and wearing shirts with slogans such as “Lez be friends” and “#StandByYourTrans”

Some things are just indisputably true: 1 + 1 = 2, “All Star” is the pinnacle of human art, and the HPA’s research team are brilliant, fantastic people who always have something interesting to share. This week was no exception.

  • This was a difficult week in gender-related news. Among the top stories is this report [link] that Rohingya women and girls are facing dangerous levels of sexual violence in refugee camps, which often lack even basic necessities like locking doors and bathrooms.
  • In library news, the ALA is taking a lot of heat for supporting Drag Queen Story Hours at local libraries. These events are becoming increasingly popular nationwide, and there are a ton of articles and opinions circulating about them. Check out the whole first page of this week’s Library Advocacy Report [link] to learn more.
  • In mental health news, the Governor of Delaware just signed legislation that makes mental health insurance benefits the same as other medical insurance benefits [link], which will hopefully help to prevent and punish discrimination against patients seeking treatment for mental illness.
  • Last but not least, we have some rad, TERF-busting LGBTQ+ news [link]: members of the intersectional L With the T movement led the Manchester Pride Parade in a strong rebuke of trans-exclusive rhetoric that surfaced during London Pride in July.

Thanks, Research Team!

Join Our Team!

Looking to take learn new skills, make a difference, and join the most kick-butt crew of wizard activists the world has ever seen? Volunteer with the HPA! We looking for folks just like you to fill a bunch of exciting positions. You can check them all out and apply on our website [link]!

the Harry Potter Alliance

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We turn fans into heroes. Help us keep doing it: thehpalliance.org/donate

the Wizard Activist

From the Harry Potter Alliance. We turn fans into heroes.

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