Celebrating DEI Initiatives
Is your school or department doing something to celebrate or highlight diversity, equity, inclusion, or belonging? We would love to hear about it and share with colleagues! If there is something you would like highlighted in our newsletter, please send information to Katie Ilijic at katie.ilijic@pccsk12.com.
In June 1977, U.S. Representatives Frank Horton of New York and Norman Mineta of California introduced a resolution to establish Asian Pacific Heritage Week, to be celebrated each year at the beginning of May. Hawaiian senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced similar legislation in the Senate. The following year, President Jimmy Carter signed into law a joint resolution to establish the annual event, and the first celebration took place in May 1979. In 1992, the month of May was designated by President George H.W. Bush as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The annual celebration honors the many contributions and accomplishments of Asian American, Pacific Islander Americans, and Native Hawaiians.
According to the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, the theme for 2024’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month is “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation.” This theme pays homage to the visionaries and trailblazers who have made lasting contributions to economic prosperity, technological advancements, and social/political change in the United States while navigating cultural and systemic barriers.
The background for this month’s newsletter is artwork by Sirin Thada that appeared in Catapult magazine with an essay titled "I Love You by Remembering What You Hate: A Recipe for Herby Salad" that explores the themes of food and friendship. Sirin (seer-in) is a Thai-American artist based in New York City. Sirin creates art that is mindful, vibrant, and engaging.
Below, please find a list of resources that may be helpful as we observe this month.
One of the strategic goals of the P-CCS Dynamic Plan states “All P-CCS students and staff will report that they feel physically, psychologically, and emotionally safe, and represented at school.” As we continue to work diligently to cultivate environments that are safe for all, we must be intentional in our actions. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act; it also affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. To raise awareness about mental health, May has been observed as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States since 1949.
Mental Health Awareness is especially important for children because the CDC reports that the number of adolescents with poor mental health is increasing. Building strong bonds and connections with our young people can protect their mental health.
The theme for Mental Health Month 2024, according to Mental Health America, is "Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World."
Below, please find a list of resources that may be helpful as we observe this month.
On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed May to be Jewish American Heritage Month. The announcement was a result of an effort by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders that resulted in resolutions, introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, urging the president to proclaim a month that would recognize the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. The resolutions passed unanimously, first in the House of Representatives in December 2005, and later in the Senate in February 2006.
The month of May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004, which was organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. This coalition was composed of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, the American Jewish Historical Society, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives and Records Administration.
Below, please find a list of resources that may be helpful as we observe this month.
P-CCS Hate and Bias Reporting Form
This is a safe online reporting platform for P-CCS students/families to document incidents of hate and bias in our schools or at school-related events.
What are Achievement Gaps and Opportunity Gaps?
P-CCS is committed to the success of every student in each of our schools and achieving our mission of developing capable, involved citizens who recognize that they are citizens of a global community, who use critical thinking skills, and are lifelong learners.
To effectuate this, P-CCS aims to increase achievement for all students and close achievement gaps. The P-CCS Educational and Racial Equity Policy (Policy 2260.03) defines achievement gaps and opportunity gaps in the following ways:
Achievement Gap: the observed disparity on a number of educational measures between the performance of groups of students, especially groups defined by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
Opportunity Gap: refers to the unequal or inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities, especially if factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, community wealth, etc. influence access to resources and affect the educational aspirations, achievement, and attainment for certain groups of students.
Please click here to read the entire Educational and Racial Equity Policy (Policy 2260.03) for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Katie Ilijic (She/Her/Hers)
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Email: katie.ilijic@pccsk12.com
Website: https://www.pccsk12.com/about-p-ccs/departments/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
Location: 454 South Harvey Street, Plymouth, MI, USA