LifeWise Academy: The Project 2025 Connected Religious Release Program in Public Schools
LifeWise Academy: The Project 2025 Connected Religious Release Program in Public Schools  
Podcast: Straight White American Jesus
Published On: Tue Jul 23 2024
Description: Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 500-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Brad interviews activist and parent Natalie Hastings, LifeWise Academy, a religious release program in public schools that takes children out of their school day for Bible study. Hastings provides insights into the program's growth, its impact on students, and its connections to larger political movements such as Project 2025. The discussion highlights concerns about the program's effects on school resources, inclusion, mental health, and the push for policies mandating such programs in different states. Natalie Hastings is a public school parent who began tracking the efforts of national extremism on public schools when her own district elected four new board members who promised to “fight CRT,” canceled an opt-in Racial Diversity Awareness Day, and passed a “Culture of Kindness” resolution to restrict teaching and discussions on race, gender identity, and inclusion. She educates and activates local communities to protect the rights of every student through Honesty for Ohio Education, an alliance of 70+ nonprofit organizations and its Honesty Teams Network, a partner in HEAL Together Race Forward’s #PublicSchoolStrong initiative. Hastings also manages research for Ohioans Against Extremism, (OHAgainstExtremism.org) a new website launching in August 2024. Other links: Policy across the US: www.schoolministries.org Parents Against LifeWise respectpublicschools.com 00:00 Introduction to LifeWise and Personal Journey 01:07 Overview of LifeWise Program 02:44 Interview with Natalie Hastings 03:38 How LifeWise Operates 05:38 Challenges and Controversies 07:45 Expansion and Legislative Push 30:51 Connections to Project 2025 39:26 Community Response and Resistance 47:41 Conclusion and Subscriber Segment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices