Phoenix Schools Platforming Calvin Terrell Through “Cultural Awareness” Programming Should Raise Concerns
How much are Phoenix public schools paying activist speaker Calvin Terrell to teach students to “decolonize,” claim ICE is the “slave patrol,” and encourage students to “risk it all for justice”?
Alhambra High School’s “Cultural Awareness Day 2026” flew under the radar but promotional materials revealed a full-day event centered around “diversity,” “equity & inclusion,” “empathy & understanding,” and “civic connection,” featuring special guest speaker Calvin Terrell.
According to the event flyer, students spent the school day participating in grade-level assemblies focused on “culture, identity, and campus climate,” followed by “team-building” activities and student debrief sessions intended to “shape future impact.”
The event concluded with a “Community Night Forum” aimed at helping shape the school’s “2026–2027 Call to Action Plan.”
On paper, the language sounds harmless — unity, belonging, growth, connectedness. That’s intentional. Modern ideological programming in schools rarely presents itself in overtly political language anymore. It presents itself as emotional wellness, empathy, reflection, and “community.”
Critics of these types of events argue that schools are increasingly moving away from traditional academic instruction and into social engineering territory, where students are encouraged to interpret themselves primarily through identity, culture, and group dynamics rather than individual merit, resilience, or critical thinking.
The event is problematic enough but the inclusion of Calvin Terrell should raise alarm bells for education officials and parents.
Calvin Terrell is a “motivational” speaker who appears to have an ongoing presence in Maricopa County public schools. This is his Facebook banner, and his catchphrase is: “Be willing to risk it all for justice for all.”
Terrell is known nationally for conducting cultural competency and diversity-based workshops in schools and organizations. Supporters describe his presentations as empowering and community-focused. Critics argue they often rely on emotionally charged exercises centered around race, bias, privilege, and identity politics.
That matters because Arizona parents have spent the last several years battling over exactly how far schools should go in pushing DEI-style programming into classrooms and assemblies.
And while schools often insist these events are simply about “inclusion,” critics note the language almost always flows in one ideological direction. There is rarely discussion about viewpoint diversity, political diversity, religious diversity, or protecting students who disagree with activist frameworks surrounding identity and social issues.
Another issue is transparency.
Was this event mandatory for students during instructional hours? Were parents fully informed about the specific content being presented? Were outside materials reviewed publicly? Were alternative viewpoints offered?
Those are fair questions — especially when the event includes structured assemblies, reflection sessions, and “Call to Action” planning tied directly to shaping school culture moving forward.
In 2021, AZFree examined Terrell but it appears that Phoenix public schools have only increased the proximity that he has to children in public schools.
State 48 News will be diving into Terrell’s formal association with Phoenix Schools and any contracts he may have.
One glance at Terrell’s social media will let you know that his proximity to high school children should be examined closely.
As of March 31, it appears that he has a dedicated room at Betty Fairfax High that he has named “The Stable.”
From “The Stable,” he delivers a speech from the classroom, claiming that white people are deified and viewed as the only fully human group. For more than five minutes, he leans heavily into themes of white supremacy and anti-Blackness, telling listeners that the “slave” must know the master (white people) better than the master knows himself.
In addition to maintaining a dedicated space at Betty H. Fairfax High School, Terrell is openly associated with numerous high schools across Phoenix.
State 48 News will be examining his contracts with schools, the funding tied to those agreements, and how much he has been paid to interact with students through his racial and social justice training programs.
Terrell also posted that anyone attending the “No Kings” rally should wear a mask. In the same series of posts, he referred to the government as “fascist,” described ICE as a “slave patrol,” claimed agents were “killing at will,” and urged supporters to “risk it all for justice” and “confront this evil.”
In another post, Terrell wrote that “the Nazis are back,” called on “all colors to squabble up,” and urged people to “stop whyte Christian nationalist fascists.”
Posts reviewed by State 48 News show Terrell repeatedly framing America through the lens of white supremacy, colonialism, and racial oppression. His social media attacks MAGA, Christianity, and conservative politics as tied to “white nationalist” systems, while encouraging followers to resist and “fight” what he describes as racist power structures.
Other posts include anti-Trump memes, warnings about a “white god complex,” and rhetoric suggesting schools must “decolonize” students rather than create “bigoted” and “fascist” thinkers. The overall tone is openly activist, racialized, and politically charged.
Even after the third attempt on President Trump’s life, Terrell continues the dangerous rhetoric on social media. If these are his public posts, it is safe to question what he is teaching children behind closed doors.
More to come on this one.
