Meet a Progressive: Teacher Ben Hodge

"I really started to realize that the progressive agenda seemed to answer a lot more of the questions and concerns of my faith: justice, mercy, and care for the marginalized in our communities."

Feb 02, 2022

Ben Hodge has been teaching, acting and directing for 20 years in a variety of formats. He has taught and directed several productions for the past 20 years in York, PA, and currently leads the AMAW Teens program at Anthony Meindl’s Acting Workshop (LA). Ben studied English and Acting at Messiah College and received his Masters in Education from Penn State University. He currently trains online and in Los Angeles at AMAW and with master improv teacher Amey Goerlich. He teaches and directs full time for all of the Acting and Theater Arts courses at Central York High School. For the past 20 years he has developed an innovative and fresh curriculum for young actors aged 13-24. Ben has been involved with Diversity programming at since 2006 with a focus primarily on education, mediation and social emotional awareness. After the murder of George Floyd, he wanted to create a safe space where students could come together and create meaningful discussions and action around social justice initiatives outside of his regular classes. He also led two community protests back in 2020 to speak out peacefully against the comments and action of our current school board.

What inspired you to start working for progressive social change?

My social change started to really blossom back in 2007 when our school district created its Diversity Program. Up to that point, most of my work with change and social justice happened within the walls of my classroom and this program helped to start make connections outside of the classroom into other parts of the school and community. I was raised a Republican my whole life and considered myself a moderate independent for most of my college and early work years. 2016 changed that dramatically. I did not like what I was seeing from the Republican Party after Trump and really started to notice a dynamic shift from moderate independent towards more moderate progressive. In addition, as a follower of Christ, I really started to realize that the progressive agenda seemed to answer a lot more of the questions and concerns of my faith: justice, mercy, and care for the marginalized in our communities.

What do you identify as the top issues progressives must confront nationally and globally?

I would say that voting rights are a big issue that needs to be looked at and protected as sacrosanct. Voting is a huge part of our democracy and needs to remain so. I would also add that organizing to run for political office is paramount now especially at the local level. If the recent school board issues with book bans and anti-CRT claims has taught me anything, it is that we need more center-minded folks in a position that needs to remain as non-partisan as it can.

What types of organizing and projects are you working on right now?

I continue to serve as the advisor for the Panther Anti-Racist Union (PARU) at my school and we are working on several art projects, Black History month celebrations, and book groups to help educate the members of our community. We are also working closely with the newly elected School Board to help make sure Diversity programming is in line with the needs of the students in the district.

Raging Chicken Media @RCpress

Thank you @cmychalejko for this excellent piece. And thank you to the student activists at Central York High School who showed students across the state what needs to be done: "Bucks County youth must rise up to defend education" buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/opinion/… via @CourierTimes

buckscountycouriertimes.comMychalejko: Bucks County youth must rise up to defend educationPennridge is Ground Zero for the far-right assault on education, but it is also happening throughout Bucks. Our county is in dire need of student heroes.

How can folks get engaged and involved?

I think the best thing to do is to follow your gut here. If you see something that is wrong, or not just, you should start to act or speak up. We were all very motivated by John Lewis and MLK Jr. of course and I think folks are aware of things that are unjust, but they don’t often know how to confront it. I would recommend getting a small group of people together who share the same concerns and start there. Speak up to each other. Listen to each other. Start to design a plan of action or some form of communication with other leaders in your community. Involvement requires action and planning, so don’t neglect to meet for planning. I am a firm believer in setting and controlling a narrative. You should decide on your message and what your goals are before ever starting some form of action. If education is required, look to do that. If activism is required, be sure to go through the proper channels to make sure that no harm will come to you for your action. Connect with like minded groups in your area and seek out communication and solidarity.

Which journalists, writers, podcasts, and publications do you turn to for information and inspiration?

Throughline (NPR)

Subversive Witness by Dominique Dubois Gilliard

The Atlantic

Vox

The Daily (NYT)

American Scandal (Wondery)

Brené Brown

Clint Smith

James Baldwin

Jon Meacham