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R15 Equity & Inclusion Newsletter

June 2023: Highlighting work of Region 15 students and staff

R15 Equity &Inclusion NewsletterJune 2023: Highlighting work of Region 15 students andstaff

World Day for Cultural Diversity & Dialogue

Region 15 elementary schools focused on cultural diversity in honor of the annual United Nations' World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which is held every year on May 21. It has been in existence since the United Nations General Assembly first declared this day in 2002. This day celebrates not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the importance of intercultural dialogue and understanding for achieving peace and sustainable development across our world.


Some schools and classrooms invited families to visit classrooms on this day to share their cultural richness and experiences with our students, so that we may celebrate and engage in dialogue with one another across our community. Some honored the day in schoolwide assemblies. Some engaged with recent art installations (more to come on that!) to promote global thinking and understanding.


While we are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and inclusive each day, the World Day for Cultural Diversity offers us an opportunity to engage in schoolwide teachable moments. We can honor this day and facilitate a shared experience to more deeply know, understand, and affirm the many, diverse cultural backgrounds that make our school community stronger and more beautiful.

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June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

Since 2006, Caribbean-American Heritage Month has been designated as such by Presidential Proclamation. Use the resources below to celebrate and learn!

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Read

School Library Journal's recommended reading list for elementary, middle, and high school students to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month! Or check out this list from Barnes & Noble.

Photo Source: SLJ

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Watch

this read aloud video of the Pura Belpré award winning author Margarita Engle's text, A Song of Frutas, illustrated by Sara Palacios. Here's the blurb about the text from the publisher: "a lively, rhythmic picture book about a little girl visiting her grandfather who is a pregonero—a singing street vendor in Cuba—and helping him sell his frutas.


When we visit mi abuelo, I help him sell
frutas, singing the names of each fruit
as we walk, our footsteps like drumbeats,
our hands like maracas, shaking…"

Source: Simon & Schuster

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Listen

to Carry On Friends The Caribbean American Podcast.This podcast "is where you'll find fresh, funny, inspiring stories and perspectives on Caribbean culture, Caribbean heritage, career, entrepreneurship and everyday life that make up the Caribbean American experience. Carry On Friends is hosted by Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown."

Source: Apple Podcasts





By Presidential Proclamation, June is also LGBTQIA+ Pride Month!

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Watch

Sesame Street's Family Day episode, which premiered in 2021, honors all family structures, including the characters in this episode, Mia and her two dads. and reinforces the message that what makes a family a family is that they love each other.


For older audiences, PBS' video series, "What I Hear When You Say...explores how words can both unite and divide us depending on our own perspective, experience, and interpretation." Each episode covers a different phrase or term that challenges what we may think we know about a given topic. Episode: What I Hear When You Say: When Did You Become Gay?

Photo Source: PBS

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Read

Check out:

Children's and middle grade book LGBTQ+ inclusive booklists recommended by the HRC (Human Rights Commission).

From publishers: Scholastic's recent post with recommendations from prek-12 and Penguin Random House's list

Photo Source: Penguin Random House

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Listen

to research on students from leading national organizations in the field. A huge part of supporting our ability to provide welcoming and inclusive schools involves listening and learning. In this case, listen and learn about the experiences of LGBTQIA+ students and families. Listen to ways to be an ally.

Photo Source: Shutterstock

Juneteenth Juneteenth

Teaching & Learning about Juneteenth

What do you already know about Juneteenth? What are some ways to deepen understanding?


Juneteenth is a significant day in American history! According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, "The name is a play on the date of June 19th, 1865. On that day, the Union Army made its way into Galveston, TX under the leadership of General Gordon Granger, and he announced to the people of Texas that all enslaved African Americans were free." (This, even though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued almost two years earlier!).


Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, and a CT state holiday in 2022.


Here are a few starting places:

  • Interactive website from the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC)
  • How to Honor Juneteenth from the ADL
  • Attend a celebration! See below for links to a few local celebrations - there are many more to look into!
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Juneteenth Family Day at the Amistad Center for Art & Culture on June 10!

Calendar of Religious Observances

Why is this information important?

  • The towns of Middlebury and Southbury are made up of families representing many different religious and cultural identities.

  • The information below is offered as a resource to increase awareness of & respect for religious observations and ethnic and cultural festivities. These observances may affect students, colleagues and neighbors in our community.

What are some ways this information can be used?

Calendar planning by for use in scheduling and planning details, for example:

  • workplace festivities

  • community events

  • school activities and exams


Click to access the ADL 2023 Calendar of Observances


Because our intention in sharing this information is to increase awareness of and respect for religious observations and ethnic and cultural festivities that may affect students, colleagues and neighbors in our community, your input is important. Please email equity_inclusion@region15.org if there is something we missed!

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Contact

Instagram: r15equity_inclusion


Background photo: Bulletin Board at RMS


The importance of listening to your lived experiences, insights, ideas, and perspectives cannot be overstated. Please feel free to reach out! We'd love to connect.


*Note: Quotation (c) 2019 CLC Collective and Dottir Press

Email: equity_inclusion@region15.org
Website: https://www.region15.org/community/equity-and-inclusion
Twitter: @r15equity

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