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Cultural Diversity & Equity

August/September 2022 Newsletter

Cultural Diversity& EquityAugust/September 2022 Newsletter
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In This Issue

  1. Back to School
  2. Department Updates
  3. Summer Recap
  4. What's happening in our schools?
  5. Women's Equality Day
  6. National Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month
  7. National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
  8. Mid-Autumn Festival
  9. Upcoming Events
  10. Happy Holidays!
New placement for translation tool for District Website will be in top right corner of page.
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District Webpage Translation Tool

As you might have noticed, our website is looking a little different! We are very excited about the updates to our website, but this means that some things may not be in the places you're used to.


Having a website that is accessible to all our students, staff, and families is very important to us, and because of our diverse population, a translation tool has always been a feature on our website.


The Translation Tool for the website will now be in the top right corner of the webpage (see image). You will click this button and then select your desired language from a drop-down menu.

Closed Caption Symbol
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Closed Captioning and Live Transcription in Zoom

Because Zoom has become so essential, we'd like to highlight accessibility features that can help you be more inclusive in your meetings and webinars. Zoom now provides closed captioning and live transcription for those with a pro, business, Education, Enterprise accounts. (ICCSD staff using their work accounts will have access to this feature). This tool is helpful for everyone, not just for those who are hearing impaired.


Click here to see full instructions about how to set up this feature for your meetings. You can also watch the video below for more information.

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COVID-19 Updates

We know that many are understandably concerned about COVID-19. Please click here to see our district COVID-19 Information. This is a developing situation, so check back frequently for any changes or updates.


To view federal and state guidelines for COVID-19, please click here to see the most up-to-date Iowa Department of Public Health COVID-19 Guidance and click here to see the most up-to-date CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools

Welcome back to school! Have a great year!
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Welcome Back Recap Message from the Superintendent!

Dear Families and Staff,


We are excited and ready to welcome students back tomorrow morning! Please remember that all of your back-to-school information can be found at www.IowaCitySchools.org/Back2School. Bell schedules can be found at www.IowaCitySchools.org/BellSchedules and the breakfast and lunch menus can be found at https://schools.mealviewer.com/.


In addition, we would like to invite you all to the Clash at Kinnick football game between City High and Liberty High at Kinnick Stadium on Friday, August 26. You can purchase your tickets at https://www.msbtickets.com/cityhighschool1/event/rikkd2az. Student activity passes will be accepted at the gate. Elementary and Junior High students must be accompanied by an adult at the game. In addition to the football game, the City High and Liberty High bands, cheerleaders, and dance teams will also be performing.


It will be a fun-filled first week back as we kick off another exciting school year! Get your rest tonight and we will see you in the morning!


Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

Infinite Campus
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Infinite Campus: Student Gender Identity Registration Options

As most of you know, the Iowa City Community School District uses Infinite Campus for our student information system.



With this system, there are options for parents whose students' names and/or gender identities differ from their legal documentation. Parents are able to select the correct information for their student's identity (in terms of gender, preferred pronouns, or name).


What does this mean for my student?

Entering in preferred names and genders will update certain education records (such as attendance reports, class rosters for substitutes, school IDs, transcripts, student email, electronic records, etc.). The student's "Legal Name" and "Legal Gender" will then be hidden from these records. This will also update Canvas information for your student.


*Official transcripts require the legal name of the student, and will not be updated by this process. Upon a legal name change from the State of Iowa, students may then request their name on transcripts to be changed for future use.


What is "Legal Gender"

You will see the terms "Legal Gender" and "Legal Name" in your student's demographic information. This is a term used for State Reporting in Iowa.


To access the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, click here.


**If your child’s gender identity status changes after registration, please contact your school secretary to update their records. Click here to view our School Directory.


[Click here for printable Student Gender Identity Registration Instructions]

To check out more from the Equity department, go to our webpage: https://www.iowacityschools.org/equity
Hello Summer
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SUMMER RECAP

A lot happened over the summer! Even though school was not in session, we still want you to know all about the amazing cultural events and observances that occur in June and July!


Please take a look at our summer edition to learn about:


  • LGBTQ Pride Month
  • Juneteenth
  • Caribbean American Heritage Month
  • Fourth of July
  • French-American Heritage Month
  • ADA 32nd Anniversary


To view our Summer 2022 newsletter, click here.

What have we been doing?

We spent time building community at Wetherby Park
ICCSD Equity Team with Opening Keyonote speaker for ICCSD New Teachers, Harvard Educator and author, Brandon P. Fleming.
The ICCSD Equity Advisory Committee shows up for PRIDE!

Want to volunteer in our buildings? Join the Community Cares Crew!

Are you interested in volunteering your time to build relationships with our students? We are excited to share a new opportunity for community members to be involved in our schools and to build relationships with students.


The Community Cares Crew will be a new team of volunteers that will go into our buildings to exclusively be a positive influence for our students. The CCC will show up in the mornings and at dismissal to welcome our students into the building, and to see them off home, all the while celebrating them and showing them they are cared about and valued in their school.


If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, please follow the instructions on the flyer below, or reach out to Frederick Newell (newell.frederick@iowacityschools.org).

Teamwork
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Restorative Justice

This month we are very excited to show you all our new Restorative Justice page of our district website!


Here we will be providing information, resources, and support regarding our RJ initiative!


Go have a look!


https://www.iowacityschools.org/RestorativeJustice

What's happening in our buildings?

Little Hawks help with BOOST program
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Little Hawks help with BOOST!

We want to give a big shout-out to South East Jr High's HAWK SQUAD! They did a stellar job in supporting the incoming class of 2028 with BOOST Camp, and showed up every morning for two weeks in the summer to volunteer! The Hawk Squad answered questions from incoming 7th graders, helped with check-in, and even gave demos on how to use the locks on the lockers!


To the class of 2026, you are City High's gain!

What's happening in August?

Women's Equality Day. August 26th 2022
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Women's Equality Day

August 26th is Women's Equality Day! Women’s Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting the right to vote to women. The amendment was first introduced in 1878.


In 1971, the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day. And though, as we've discussed in previous issues, there were still obstacles that women of color faced that kept them from the full impact of this amendment, they never stopped fighting for their rights.


The 19th Amendment reads as follows;


"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."


On this day we hope you'll all show your appreciation to the women on our staff, and in our community! You are all awesome and we couldn't do this without you!

What's Happening in September?

September 15th to October 15th is National Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month! This is a time to celebrate the histories of all our Hispanic/Latino students, staff, families, and community members, and appreciate different cultures while learning about contributions from this diverse community!


Hispanic/Latino Heritage month began as only a week-long observance in 1968 and grew into an entire month-long event to recognize the contributions of Hispanic/Latino/Latinx Americans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau the Hispanic population, as of July 2019, was 60.6 million, making it the nation's largest ethnic or racial minority, and 18.5% of the nation's total population!


Why September?

Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th-October 15th because it coincides with Independence Day celebrations with many different Latin American nations. Five other countries; Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua declared independence from Spain on September 15th, 1821. Mexico's independence day is on September 16th, 1810. Chile celebrates its independence on September 18th, 1810 (from Spain), and Belize on September 21st, 1981 (from Great Britain).


Who is included?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month celebrates those who claim ancestry to Spain, Mexico, and Spanish speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. These countries include: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.


Hispanic vs. Latino vs. Latinx

Why are we using the terms Hispanic and Latino? Because the communities and cultures that are celebrated this month are very diverse and have rich individual histories and stories. This means that not everyone will always agree on everything. Using the terms Hispanic, Latino, or even Latinx has been a regularly debated topic in modern history, and there isn't one right answer.


In fact, many individuals prefer to be considered and referred to by their country of origin rather than an umbrella term.


As we've discussed before, there is diversity within diversity, and sometimes a term that works for an individual may not work for others, so we need to respect and give space to others and to ourselves to find the terms that work best. The diverse population in question should always have the power to identify as they wish, and words or names should never be forced upon them.


To learn more about the history behind these terms, click here.

Gabriela Mistral (1889 - 1957)
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Gabriela Mistral (1889 - 1957)

Gabriela Mistral (Lucila Godoy Alcayaga) was a Chilean poer-diplomat, educator and humanist. She received a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945, making her the first Latin America Author to receive the award.


She is one of the best-known Latin American poets of her time, and her work was celebrated for the cultural values and traditions of South America that had not been seen in poetry up until that point.


To learn more about Gabriela Mistral, click here.

Cesar Chavez (1927 - 1993)
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Cesar Chavez (1927 - 1993)

Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American labor leader and civil rights, activist. He fought for the rights of migrant farm workers in the United States and worked to improve their working and living conditions.


Chavez co-founded, with Dolores Huerta, the National Farm Workers Association (later United Farm Workers), and spent his life fighting for justice. His motto, "Si see puede!" is still used by activists today!


To learn more about Cesar Chavez, click here.
Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1874 - 1938)
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Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1874 - 1938)

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was an Afro-Puerto Rican writer, scholar, and activist, as well as a prominent figure during the Harlem Renaissance. He spent his life raising awareness of the contributions of Afro-Latin Americans and African Americans.


He collected art, literature, narratives from enslaved peoples, and other African historical artifacts, and after he died the New York Public Library purchased his collection and created the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.


To learn more about Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, click here.

LULAC Logo
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The League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa (LULAC)

The League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa (LULAC Iowa), specifically LULAC Council 308 in Iowa City, is a wonderful community resource and is the largest and oldest civil rights Hispanic Organization in the United States.


LULAC Council 308 Chapter in Iowa City provides a variety of services and advocates for the Latino community in areas such as Education, Infrastructure, Housing, Diversity, and Healthcare.


LULAC has partnered with Open Heartland to provide online learning opportunities such as tutoring for our students and parents. They address the growing achievement gap among Latino students that has worsened during the pandemic with limited access to online support, translation services, and access to reliable internet.


We are grateful to all of our community partners that have prioritized diversity during the pandemic and helped to support our ICCSD Families.

To learn more about Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month check out these resources

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This is a time to raise awareness of this topic and to open up the conversation and remove shame from the discussion of mental health.


Suicide can affect anyone, no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, religion, etc. It is the 10th leading cause of death the in United States and is often preventable if we take the proper steps to address the issue at a systemic level.


Whether you are a student, staff, family, or community member, please look at the resources below. Mental Health is everyone's responsibility, and we can change the conversation surrounding it if we work together.


Additional Local Support Resources:

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
We can all help prevent suicide. 988 is now active across the United States. This new, shorter phone number will make it easier for people to remember and access mental health crisis services.

Additional Resources for Suicide Prevention Month

Photo of Mooncake on table with wooden spoon
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Have a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

September 10th marks the Mid-Autumn Festival (Or Moon Festival)! This festival is celebrated by many East and Southeast Asian communities. It is the second most important day of the Chinese New Year, and the celebration dates back over 3,000 years!


To learn more about the Mooncake, click here.

To learn more about the legend of Chang E. click here.


Where can I get mooncakes?

Tết Trung Thu - Mid-autumn Festival by babel.boheme

Upcoming Events

Event Information

"The Cost of Belonging: An Ethnography of Solidarity and Mobility in Beijing’s Koreatown"

The Korean Studies Research Network and International Programs will present a virtual lecture by guest speaker Sharon J. Yoon entitled "The Cost of Belonging: An Ethnography of Solidarity and Mobility in Beijing’s Koreatown" on Friday, Sept. 2, from noon - 1:30 p.m. (CST), via Zoom.

This event is free and open to the public.

Register to attend

When?

Friday, Sep 2, 2022, 12:00 PM

Event Information

ICPL - Spanish Bilingual Storytime

Join us on Tuesdays for Spanish Bilingual Storytime! Every week, there will be a fun theme with plenty of repetition from previous weeks in order to enhance language learning. Get ready for a lot of movement with singing, dancing, activities, stories, and rhymes in Spanish and English. Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome to join us.


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¡Ven a la biblioteca los martes para el programa de cuentos bilingües en español e inglés! Cada semana, va a ver un tema divertido con muchas repeticiones de las semanas anteriores para practicar los lenguajes. Prepárate para mucho movimiento con cantos, bailes, instrumentos, actividades, cuentos y rimas en español e inglés. Los niños de todas las edades y sus cuidadores están invitados al programa.


Si necesita adaptaciones relacionadas con la discapacidad para participar en este evento, por favor avísale a la biblioteca.


英西双语故事会
每周二请加入我们的英西双语故事会！为加强语言学习，我们将每周围绕一个新主题展开活动，同时也会大量重复之前的活动内容，包括西班牙语和英语的儿歌，舞蹈，动作游戏，绘本阅读，押韵童谣等各种活动。欢迎各年龄段的小朋友们和看护者参加活动。


If you need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the Library.


This event is open to the public.

When?

Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022, 10:30 AM

Where?

Iowa City Public Library, South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA, USA

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Event Information

Family Night: Mooncakes and More for Mid-Autumn Festival

Let's get together in storytime room tonight to celebrate the Moon/Mid-Autumn festival! Together we will be sharing stories, watching a traditional shadow play, and making some snowy mooncakes! Happy Moon/Mid-Autumn festival!


One mooncake per participant please.


月圆夜，庆中秋，欢迎小朋友们和家人一起参加我们的中秋家庭夜活动！让我们一起欣赏中秋故事和传统皮影戏，并尝试自己制作冰皮月饼。
每位来宾可现场制作并享用一个月饼。


¡Reunámonos en la sala de la hora del cuento esta noche para celebrar el festival de la Luna/Medio Otoño! ¡Juntos compartiremos historias, veremos un teatro de sombras tradicional y haremos algunos pasteles de luna nevados! ¡Feliz festival de la Luna/Medio Otoño!


Un pastel de luna por participante por favor.


This event is open to the public.

When?

Friday, Sep 9, 2022, 04:00 PM

Where?

Iowa City Public Library, South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA, USA

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Event Information

University of Iowa - How Do We Look?: Racial Reckoning through Comics

This event is part of the 2022-23 Mellon Sawyer Seminar, "Racial Reckoning through Comics." In addition to a year-long intensive seminar with local participants, this Sawyer Seminar will feature a series of public presentations by prominent visiting creators and scholars, a film series, workshops, podcasts, and other public events, all of which will critically engage questions of racial representation in the popular international formats of comics.


To begin our year-long Mellon Sawyer Seminar devoted to “Racial Reckoning Through Comics,” we ask—“How do we look?” Who, this question implicitly asks, are “we”? Does “how we look” involve how we view others or how we are viewed? Do we look—or are we looked at—with affection and respect or distrust and fear? This reciprocity is further complicated by larger historical and cultural forces, including popular culture. On one hand, mainstream comics routinely perpetuate negative racial and ethnic stereotypes through visual representation. On the other, comics increasingly offer empowering narratives and histories of marginalized people and events. Coming together as comics artists and scholars of comics, our prominent visitors will help us explore this tension through their own critical and creative work, perspectives, and experiences.


"How Do We Look?" Schedule:


Friday, Sept. 9

10–11 a.m. Coffee and Welcome

11 a.m. – noon. Frederick Luis Aldama (University of Texas, Austin): "Geometrizing Ethnoracial Formation Narratives in BIPOC Teen Comics"

Noon–2 p.m. Lunch Break

2–3 p.m. Stacey Robinson (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign): "Calculating the Sensory Aesthetics of Black Liberation"

4–5 p.m. Reception


Saturday, September 10

11 a.m. – noon. Rebecca Wanzo (Washington University, St. Louis): "Redrawing the Western Canon: Race, Identification, and 'High' Art in Comics"

Noon–2 p.m. Lunch Break

2–3 p.m. Bishakh Som (Brooklyn, New York), "Trans/Migration: Explorations in Gender, Culture and Identity through Comics"

4–5 p.m. Panel discussion


Free and open to all. This is an in-person event, but it will also be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/thelibrarychannel.



Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Erin Hackathorn in advance at 319-335-4034 or erin-hackathorn@uiowa.edu


To learn more about this event, click here.

When?

Friday, Sep 9, 2022, 09:00 PM

Where?

Iowa City Public Library, South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA, USA

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Event Information

Free Medical Clinic - Dream City

The University of Iowa Mobile Clinic will be at Dream City on September 10th from 1PM-4PM to offer services at no cost to you!


Our Services:
  • Sports Physicals
  • Children and Adult Primary Care
  • Blood Pressure Checks
  • Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Checks
  • Health Education

When?

Saturday, Sep 10, 2022, 01:00 PM

Where?

Dream City, Southgate Avenue, Iowa City, IA, USA

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Event Information

University of Iowa - LGBTQ Safe Zone: Phase I

The LGBTQ Safe Zone Project is a campus-wide program that offers a visible message of inclusion, affirmation, and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the university community.


To get session details and register for UI campus courses, log in to UI Employee Self Service, select "My Career” then “My Training" to be rerouted to the Learning and Development portal. Click on the “Enroll in Courses” tab. Then use the search fields to find the desired sessions.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Inclusive Education and Strategic Initiatives in advance at 319-353-2388 or ddei-iesi@uiowa.edu.


Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Bria Marcelo in advance at 319-353-2388 or ddei-iesi@uiowa.edu


To learn more about this event, click here.

When?

Thursday, Sep 15, 2022, 10:00 AM

Where?

University Capitol Centre, Suite 2766 (Training Room Inside UCC 2750 Suite) 200 South Capitol Street, Iowa City, IA 52240

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Event Information

The Impact of Schools on Mental Health: An Obermann Conversation

Schools play a crucial role in young people's mental health, something that became extremely clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the CDC, in 2021, 37% of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health, and 44% reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year. Schools provide connectedness to mentors, friends, and services. At the same time, they can also be sites of difficulty in the form of bullying or stress from learning obstacles.

In this conversation, we will learn more about research and resources available in our area, including the work of the newly formed Iowa Center for School Mental Health.

Speakers:

  • Allison Bruhn, Executive Director, Iowa Center for School Mental Health
  • Maithreyi Gopalan, Assistant Professor, Education & Public Policy, Penn State University
  • Lindsey Schluckebier, Curriculum Coordinator: K-12 Counseling & Health, Iowa City Community Schools
  • Shannon Lea Watkins, Assistant Professor, Community & Behavioral Health

This virtual event is free and open to all, but registration is required.


Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Erin Hackathorn in advance at 319-335-4034 or erin-hackathorn@uiowa.edu

When?

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2022, 07:00 PM

Event Information

Climate Fest Party at Wetherby Park

Celebrate Climate Fest with families at Wetherby Park. Enjoy family-friendly performances by Yahoo Drummers and Kevin Burt at Wetherby Park from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.


While you are there, check out the fun activities and lawn games courtesy of the Parks & Recreation "Rec n' Roll" Trailer.


Grab food from Lunas Tacos or Marcos Grilled Cheese while visiting City and community booths including Iowa City Parks & Recreation, Equity & Human Rights, Communications, and Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County.


Be sure to stop by the Iowa City Public Library's Bookmobile for books and fun activities!


Details can be found online: https://www.icgov.org/ic-climate-fest


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Celebre el Clima Fest con las familias en Wetherby Park. Disfrute de actuaciones familiares de Yahoo Drummers y Kevin Burt en Wetherby Park de 5 p. m. a 8 p. m.


Mientras esté allí, vea las actividades divertidas y los juegos de césped cortesía del tráiler "Rec n' Roll" de Parks & Recreation.


Come comida de Lunas Tacos o Marcos Grilled Cheese mientras visita los puestos de la ciudad y la comunidad, incluidos Iowa City Parks & Recreation, Equity & Human Rights, Communications y Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County


¡Asegúrese de pasar por la Biblioteca Móvil de la Biblioteca Pública de Iowa City para libros y actividades divertidas


Los detalles se pueden encontrar en línea: https://www.icgov.org/ic-climate-fest


This event is open to the public.

When?

Friday, Sep 23, 2022, 05:00 PM

Where?

Wetherby Park, Taylor Drive, Iowa City, IA, USA

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Event Information

ICPL - Why we need Art Spiegelman’s MAUS in Holocaust education

A talk by University of Iowa professor Elke Heckner


Each survivor generation has created its own powerful representation of the Holocaust. As such, Art Spiegelman’s 1986 Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel MAUS exemplifies the second-generation point of view. A Tennessee school board has recently banned MAUS—which narrates the story of Spiegelman’s father Vladek, a first-generation survivor in conversation with his second-generation son.


During this talk you will learn how to interpret difficult content in Spiegelman’s graphic novel, get a grasp on some of the issues that have set off misunderstandings about MAUS, and recognize the importance of giving voice to the experience of sons and daughters of Holocaust survivors. After this talk, you will be able to explain why MAUS is especially important for Holocaust education in schools.


If you need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the Library.


This event is open to the public.


To learn more about this event, click here.

When?

Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, 12:30 PM

Where?

Iowa City Public Library, South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA, USA

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Commemorative Observances

This year we will acknowledge the various diverse cultures that are celebrated throughout the year. We understand that our calendar may not be all-inclusive, so if you are aware of any cultural holidays or months of observance that we should know about, feel free to reach out and let us know.



African American History Month (February)
National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.


Women's History Month (March)
Women’s History Month honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States.


Irish-American Heritage Month (March)
Irish-American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions which Irish-Americans have made to the United States.


Jewish American Heritage Month (May)
Jewish American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions Jewish Americans have made to America since they first arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654.


Asian Pacific Heritage Month (May)

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions Asian/Pacific Americans have made to American history, society and culture.


Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month (June)

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month commemorates the events of June 1969 and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQ Americans.


National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American society and culture and honors five of our Central American neighbors who celebrate their Independence days in September.


National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the accomplishments in the workplace of persons with disabilities and reaffirms the commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunities to all citizens.


American Indian Heritage Month (November)
National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States.



By Month

https://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/index.php

Holidays around the world
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Happy Holidays!

We'd love to give a big shout-out to all the holidays happening in August and September! If you celebrate any of these, we hope that you have an amazing day for yourself and your families!


  • Lammas - Monday, August 1st
  • Lughnasadh - Monday, August 1st
  • Kamál - Monday, August 1st
  • Nag Panchami - Tuesday, August 2nd
  • Tish'a B'Av - Saturday, August 6th
  • Transfiguration of the Lord - Saturday, August 6th
  • Day of Ashura/Muharram - Monday, August 8th
  • Raksha Bandhan - Thursday, August 11th
  • Varalakshmi Vrat - Friday, August 12th
  • Obon - Saturday, August 13th
  • The Assumption of Mary - Monday, August 15th
  • Dormition of the Theotokos - Monday, August 15th
  • Krishna Janmashtami - Friday, August 19th
  • Asmá’ - Saturday, August 20th
  • Ganesh Chaturthi - Wednesday, August 31st
  • Onam Begins - Tuesday, August 30th


  • Ecclesiastic New Year - Thursday, September 1st
  • Onam Ends - Thursday, September 8th
  • ‘Izzat (Might) - Thursday, September 8th
  • Nativity of Virgin Mary - Thursday, September 8th
  • Holy Cross Day - Wednesday, September 14th
  • Arba'een - Friday, September 16th - Saturday, September 17th
  • Vishwakarma Puja - Saturday, September 17th
  • Mabon - Wednesday September 21st - Thursday, September 29th
  • Mahalaya Amavasya - Sunday, September 25th
  • Rosh Hashanah - Sunday September 25th - Tuesday, September 27th
  • Navaratri begins - Monday September 26th
  • Mashíyyat (Will) - Tuesday, September 27th
  • Fast of Gedaliah - Wednesday, September 28th
  • Michael and All Angels - Thursday, September 29th

Who is in the Equity Department?

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Laura Gray, Executive Director of Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness

Email: gray.laura@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000

Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations
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Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations

Email: howard.eric@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/Equity
Location: 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: (319) 688-1000

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Luke Dillon, Assistant Director of Equity and Instruction

Email: dillon.luke@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/Equity
Location: 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: 319 688 1000

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Charita Martin, Equity Coordinator

Email: martin.charita@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000

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Brad Kelly, Restorative Justice Coordinator

Email: kelly.brad@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000

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Fred Newell, Inclusion and Outreach Coordinator

Email: newell.frederick@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000

Priscilla Culp, Diversity and Equity Coach
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Priscilla Culp, Diversity and Equity Coach

Email: Culp.Priscilla@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/Equity
Location: 1725 Dodge St Ct, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000

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Andrea Jayne, Equity Specialist

Email: jayne.andrea@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000

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About Us

Non-Discrimination Policy


It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Eric Howard, Director of Equity & Employee Relations

Email: howard.eric@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/domain/64
Location: 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: (319) 688-1000