Putting my Mind and Heart to Educational Equity

From the Foreword by Kenji Hakuta and Diana Mercado-Garcia: As a civil rights lawyer, Peter Roos has been something of an artist, painting on this canvas with the lawyerly instruments available to him, getting involved in key interpretations of the equal protection clauses of the Constitution and civil rights laws, especially in how meaningful access is granted through instruction in a language that students can understand. But with the sensitivity of an artist, he has worked the complex environment with an understanding of the power and limitations of his tools combined with a fine sense of whom to push, when, and how. Roos's awareness of the context and attention to nuance constitute the basis of his effectiveness, and the lessons he shares will benefit those in every field, not just law or education. His heart and intellect together helped him to understand the perspective of the court, the defendant, and the broader society in order to win justice for the underserved. The book at times overflows with his joy for the work and reveals Roos's ample gusto for life. His life has been an adventure full of love for his wife, Emma, and for his many close colleagues, particularly Roger Rice (of Rice/Roos and Roos/Rice fame). Roos is living proof of the difference that one person can make within this complex world. This memoir shows us how he did it.