Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Last year, Idaho teacher #SarahInama was ordered to remove a poster from her sixth-grade classroom that said "Everyone Is Welcome Here." School officials called it controversial and a violation of district policy.
At first, she took it down. Then she asked herself: "What message does this send to my students?" That weekend, she put it back up. Despite warnings and legal pressure, Sarah refused to remove it. She eventually resigned—not because she gave up, but because she couldn't compromise on welcoming all students unconditionally.
In January, GFBNEC President and CEO Dr. Mitch Maki delivered the keynote at Wassmuth Center for Human Rights' Cultivating Compassionate Communities Conference in Boise, themed #EveryoneIsWelcomeHere. He recognized Sarah's courage and connected her stand to the lessons of Japanese American history about courage and strength when equal protection under the law is denied.
Our Nisei soldiers fought for constitutional principles while they and their families were denied those same rights. Today, educators like Sarah carry forward that fight for justice and dignity. History isn't just something we remember. It's something we live.
Thanks to the Wassmuth and their staff for welcoming GFBNEC. And thanks to Sarah Inama for being a role model we all should emulate.
Last year, Idaho teacher #SarahInama was ordered to remove a poster from her sixth-grade classroom that said "Everyone Is Welcome Here." School officials called it controversial and a violation of district policy.
At first, she took it down. Then she asked herself: "What message does this send to my students?" That weekend, she put it back up. Despite warnings and legal pressure, Sarah refused to remove it. She eventually resigned—not because she gave up, but because she couldn't compromise on welcoming all students unconditionally.
In January, GFBNEC President and CEO Dr. Mitch Maki delivered the keynote at Wassmuth Center for Human Rights' Cultivating Compassionate Communities Conference in Boise, themed #EveryoneIsWelcomeHere. He recognized Sarah's courage and connected her stand to the lessons of Japanese American history about courage and strength when equal protection under the law is denied.
Our Nisei soldiers fought for constitutional principles while they and their families were denied those same rights. Today, educators like Sarah carry forward that fight for justice and dignity. History isn't just something we remember. It's something we live.
Thanks to the Wassmuth and their staff for welcoming GFBNEC. And thanks to Sarah Inama for being a role model we all should emulate.
