Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force

Every month the Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force puts together a newsletter to bring awareness to social justice issues and help foster a sense of inclusivity in our Hyde-Addison community.

In the newsletters you will find book recommendations for the entire family, suggestions of fun and informative cultural events happening around town, international recipes, guest speakers, and, at times, discussion of hot button issues that are in the news.

The task force is made up of parents, teachers, and administrators who meet the last Friday of every month to discuss creative ways to cultivate and promote an environment of equity and anti-racism at our school.

If you are interested in joining, please email hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov or join on Konstella by going to “Directory” and browsing “Committees”.

This 2024 Picture Book List published by Indigenous Reads Rising is recommended by our Hyde-Addison teachers! Families can enjoy these beautiful newly released picture books as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November and continue to uplift Native American Heritage throughout the rest of the year.

These diverse picture books will educate children and families on the many histories, cultures, and ongoing traditions of our Indigenous American communities and reflect stories and perspectives that have been vastly underrepresented in children's literature.

In celebration of Indigenous People's Day and in preparation for Native American Heritage Month, Ms. Lee's 4th graders learned about Native American Tribes. Check out some of their photos below!

In the last year, various legislation aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in education and the workplace have grown. “Since 2023, 14 anti-DEI bills have become law. These bills tend to focus on restricting DEI offices/staff, DEI training, diversity statements, and identity-based hiring practices.” This coincides with the US Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to end affirmative action - race-conscious based admissions - at colleges and universities.

DEI can trace its roots back to anti-discrimination laws from the civil rights movement in the 1960s. In the decades that followed, companies began incorporating diversity training into their business strategies, but only in piecemeal ways. Initiatives soon faltered and diversity efforts lost momentum.

Then with the 2020 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, followed by widespread racial justice protests, major corporations began making public pledges to diversify and DEI initiatives surged once again. However, this was short-lived, as backlash against DEI measures grew and conservative lawmakers began pushing anti-DEI agendas. Since the implementation of these anti-DEI policies some universities have completely dissolved programming and offices related to diversity.

Opponents of DEI believe it unfairly prioritizes certain people over others. Advocates, however, believe it helps end racial disparity on campuses and at work, creating a more inclusive environment, especially for those who have been traditionally excluded.

A few of our Palestinian students have been taking classes to learn the Dabke, a traditional Levantine folk dance popular in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. The Arabic word “Dabke” means “stomp the feet” or “to make noise”. The dance involves people standing in a line as they move together around the room stomping in unison, accompanied by music. It is usually performed at weddings, celebrations and family gatherings.

Nora and Zaina, 2nd graders in Mr. Viltz’s class, shared why learning Dabke is important to them.

If anyone in your family has a traditional dance, music, language, or an artistic endeavor they’d like to share, let us know so we can include it in the next newsletter!

Celebrate diversity by cooking with your family and exploring global cuisines together. This week’s featured recipe is VEGAN ETHIOPIAN STEW (ATAKILT WAT), a flavorful dish from Ethiopia. Atakilt Wat is a hearty vegan stew made with tender cabbage, carrots, and potatoes, simmered in a fragrant berbere spice mix.

yield: 4

prep time: 5 MINUTES

cook time: 30 MINUTES

total time: 35 MINUTES

Ingredients

● 2 tsp olive oil, divided

● 3 cloves garlic, minced

● 1 cm ginger, minced

● 1 green chili, chopped

● 1/2 white onion, diced

● 2 tbsp berbere spice mix

● 3 medium carrots, sliced

● 2 medium sweet or white potatoes, cubed

● 1/2 head of cabbage, finely chopped

● 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a frying pan (with a lid) over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, chili and onion and cook for a few minutes, until fragrant.
2. Add berbere spice mix, coating everything in the pan, and cook for a few more minutes.
3. Add carrots, potato, cabbage and salt. Mix well, then cover the pan and cook for 15 minutes, stirring every now and again.
4. Add another teaspoon of oil to the pan, mix everything around then cover and cook for another 15 minutes (or until all vegetables are tender).
5. Serve hot with injera flatbread.

Did your student celebrate any holidays or traditions related to their culture, race, or ethnicity this month? Please share any photos or videos related to your celebrations via email: hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov.