HER Commitment of Support and Call for Collective Strength

Dear Holistic Education Review Community,

So much is happening in the United States and global context that is of both great relevance and concern to our community. We (the HER editorial board) feel called to name and respond to current events impacting all of us at varying levels. We think the time is now to pause and regain clarity of our purpose and to reassert our values. 

As the HER editorial board, we reaffirm our dedication to amplifying voices that envision and enact education as a force for liberation, healing, and ecological stewardship. We remain committed to providing a platform for sharing knowledge, strategies, and stories that sustain and inspire and WIDEN the circle of holistic education scholarship and practice. 

Holistic education is rooted in the principles of interconnectedness, care, and the cultivation of human potential in service of a just and sustainable world. These values are directly challenged when policies seek to constrain the freedom to teach and learn in ways that honor the whole child, the whole educator, and the whole community.

We hear you. The stress and uncertainty that many educators, students, families, and advocates are experiencing is palpable. At the same time, we also acknowledge the profound resilience within our community—resilience that has long driven transformative educational practices despite political and systemic barriers.

We know some of our authors and readers or their families have recently lost their jobs or face sudden destabilization of funding sources due to the actions being taken by the US federal government. Please know that you are not alone. We invite you to reach out, share reflections, and lean on this community for support. We have created a collaborative creative space to do this here: https://padlet.com/ar4qw/HER2025. We request that we use this opportunity to model positive expressions of compassion, care, and love.

In the face of policies that attempt to diminish community based and holistic education, we will continue to uplift the principles of our core values—fostering connection, critical inquiry, and compassionate action.