HSD Equity and Inclusion Updates
Check out what's happening across the HSD!
Dustin Liu
Dustin Liu serves as the Senior Associate Director of the NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing (IPF). His keynote to the HSD was about Cultivating Purpose in Learning: In a world of rapid change and uncertainty, how can we help students connect learning to a deeper sense of purpose? To tap student engagement, we need to recognize the role of education not just as preparation for exams or careers, but as a pathway to the lives our students hope to build. Classroom learning can connect to a broader vision of flourishing can spark motivation, resilience, and meaning.
Anti-Racism Statement
“The School District of the Town of Hartford rejects all forms of racism. Racism in any form will not be tolerated in this school. Hartford Schools are committed to the mission of increasing cultural respect by cultivating greater understanding of concepts of diversity, inclusion, equity, implicit bias, white privilege, white supremacy, and systemic racism.”
Gender Inclusivity Statement
"The Hartford School District is committed to providing a safe, orderly, civil, and positive learning environment for all students and staff, regardless of perceived or actual gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, and/or sexual orientation. It is the position of the Hartford School District that transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals deserve the same inclusion and acknowledgement that cisgender individuals receive."
Neurodiversity and Inclusion Statement
"The Hartford School District values neurodiversity as a natural and vital part of human diversity and that honoring neurological differences is essential to building an inclusive community. We affirm the inherent value and dignity of neurodivergent individuals and are committed to creating learning environments where we uphold each person’s authenticity, cultivate belonging, and promote agency by confronting ableism and ensuring neurodivergent students, staff, and community members are recognized, included, and supported."
HSD Affinity Group Statement
In an effort to build community and belonging, the HSD has multiple affinity groups in each of its school buildings. An affinity group is a group of people linked by a common purpose, identity, or interest. Affinity Groups play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed. They are never used to promote hate speech, discriminatory behavior, exclusion, or hostility. We offer and/or are creating affinity groups for students of the BIPOC/global majority/multicultural community, LGBTQ+ and their allies, boys/men, and neurodiverse learners.
Holidays in September
September is National Hispanic Heritage Month!
September 3: Eid-Maulad-un-Nabsi (Islam)
September 11: Day of Remembrance (USA)
September 11: Meskerem/New Year (Ethiopia)
September 16: Dia de la Independencia (Mexico)
September 23-24 Rosh Hashanah/New Year (Jewish)
September 30: San Geronimo Day (Indigenous, USA)
September 30: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (Indigenous, Canada)
Harvest Moon Festival
National Coming Out Day
Logo designed by Keith Haring for the Human Rights Campaign's advocacy of the day
Indigenous Peoples' Day
In your school's weekly newsletter, we provide a quick blurb, article, video, or story to help you better understand the HSD Anti-Racism and Gender Inclusivity Policies. Here is a link where you can access all the past Curiosity Corner information!