Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force

Greetings from the Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force. Please join the Equity and Anti-Racism

conversation at Hyde-Addison by emailing hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov and requesting to be added to the Task Force email list maintained by the school, joining us on Konstella, utilizing the resources here, and/or participating in the monthly Task Force virtual meeting at 4pm on the last Friday of every month. As parents, teachers and staff, we are interested in doing our part to promote equity and end racism in constructive, supportive ways.

The month of April recognizes and gives prominence to numerous vital issues and causes. In this newsletter edition, we will try to shed light on some of them.

For decades climate scientists and environmental activists have sounded the alarm about the damage our actions have inflicted on our planet. The continued trend of rising greenhouse gas emissions is causing the world to warm faster than at any other time in recorded history. This leads to hotter temperatures, more severe weather, drought, rising sea levels, and the loss of vital ecosystems.

That is why every year, during Earth Month, environmental leaders and activists present plans, solutions and strategies to help mitigate the damage we’ve caused and prevent further harm. While there is a lot to worry about, there is plenty of good news. In December 2023, at the COP28 climate summit, nearly 200 countries made a commitment to move away from fossil fuels. According to a UN-backed panel, the ozone layer is on track to recover within four decades. And last year, electric vehicles made up 15% of all new vehicle sales.

If you’re looking to learn more, throughout the months of April and May various Smithsonian museums will hold events “to inform and inspire your part in creating a sustainable future for us all.”

Earth Day has been celebrated in the US for more than 50 years. The first was celebrated in 1970 with 20 million Americans taking to the streets to bring awareness to the negative impact we’ve had on the environment. By the end of that year, the growing momentum led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Then in 1990, Earth Day went global, and today is considered “one of the largest secular observances in the world with over 1 billion people participating each year”.

The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Planet vs. Plastics. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, more than 500 billion plastic bags—one million bags per minute—were produced worldwide in 2022. Today, we produce about 400 million tons of plastic waste every year. This includes items we can all find in our homes - water bottles, plastic utensils, grocery bags, shampoo bottles, potato chip bags, and so much more.

This year Earthday.org is “demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040…The Planet vs. Plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastics and safeguard the health of every living being upon our planet.”

Want some tips for how you and your family can make an impact? Take a look at some of the things you can do here.

Emancipation Day is a public holiday in Washington, DC where it is celebrated annually on April 16. It commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Act by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, which abolished slavery in Washington, DC.

The DC Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862 ended slavery in Washington, DC, freed 3,100 individuals, reimbursed those who "legally owned" them and offered the newly freed women and men money to emigrate. It is this legislation, and the courage and struggle of those who fought to make it a reality, that we commemorate every April 16, DC Emancipation Day.

How to celebrate Emancipation Day:

There are plenty of things to do to commemorate Emancipation Day 2024, we have listed two below:

• Have a field trip! – We recommend commemorating Emancipation Day with your family by visiting the fantastic National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. This Smithsonian Institution Museum is full of rich history and showcases African American culture. It is the only national museum devoted solely to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture.
• Attend DC Emancipation Day Parade on April 14th, 2024, starting at 9th St and Pennsylvania Ave. NW at 2:00 p.m.

April is Autism Acceptance Month! This month, we celebrate the diverse and valuable contributions of individuals on the autism spectrum. It's an opportunity to recognize their unique perspectives, which enrich our understanding of the world. This month fosters a sense of connectedness among individuals, families, and communities, promoting inclusivity and understanding. Rather than focusing solely on awareness, Autism Acceptance Month emphasizes acceptance, embracing neurodiversity as a fundamental aspect of humanity. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Below are some resources to help us celebrate this month:

Helping Your Child with Autism Thrive

From Awareness to Acceptance: 10 Children’s Books that Accurately Portray What it is to be Autistic

Active for Autism

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

National Arab American Heritage Month is a time to highlight Arab-Americans’ culture, history and contributions to the United States. An estimated 3.7 million Americans have Arab roots traced to 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with the majority having ties to Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Syria and Iraq. The cities with the largest Arab-American populations are New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Washington D.C.

There will be many events around town commemorating the month, so make sure to check them out. One such event is on April 18th, when “the Arab America Foundation will present its annual National Arab American Heritage Month Commemoration at the UDC Theater for the Arts at the University of the District of Columbia, this year paying tribute to the rich heritage and identity of the Palestinian people.” On April 27th the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC, in collaboration with the Arab America Foundation, will commemorate National Arab American Heritage Month with a special event open to the public. If you’re looking to mark the month by dining on some Arab cuisine, here are a few places in DC to check out:

Mama Ayesha’s

Maydan

Albi

Yellow

Falafel, Inc.

Founded by the Academy of American Poets, the first National Poetry Month was celebrated in 1996. It has now become the largest world-wide literary celebration, spotlighting poets and their poetry.

Poetry has been enmeshed in our lives for thousands of years, as people have used it to express their feelings and thoughts. In many cultures poetry was a way to share and pass down history and traditions. Ballads and odes - lyrical poems that glorified an event or person - were often utilized as a form of storytelling. Today poetry is often used as a form of social commentary to raise awareness about an injustice or to inspire change.

You can find great resources on the Reading Rockets website, including poetry book recommendations for kids and interviews with children’s poets. Hyde-Addison librarian, Ms. Connolly, would also be a great resource!

The official poster for this year’s National Poetry Month (to the right) features lines from the poem “blessing the boats” by Lucille Clifton. Below is the poem in its entirety.

may the tide

that is entering even now

the lip of our understanding

carry you out

beyond the face of fear

may you kiss

the wind then turn from it

certain that it will

love your back may you

open your eyes to water

water waving forever

and may you in your innocence

sail through this to that

Our teachers highlighted and celebrated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) throughout Black History Month. It was vital for teachers to convey the importance of HBCUs to Black people's progression and American history. Students learned a great deal of information about various HBCUs, including learning about the school's history, the distinctive areas of academia they specialized in, prominent individuals who attended such universities, universities that were pioneers in their own right to provide higher education to Black students, and their diverse sports teams, to name a few. To showcase their newfound knowledge, each class created a pennant for the university they were representing. Each pennant displayed the school's name, colors, mascot, and something each class learned that they thought was interesting. In addition, two students from each class learned the specific chant or call and response the school was known for.

Call and responses have a deep-rooted history in African music; while they are direct, they are meaningful. It created an instant connection between Black people at social functions, communal gatherings, etc. Howard University's, Vice President of Communications, stated, " It instantly builds connection even if you have never met the person." It's like giving every student who attends one of the universities something that never leaves them and makes experiences at HBCUs that much more special. Recognizing the pride and joy connected to each expression, we wanted Hyde-Addison students to feel that connection to the HBCU they learned about. Through the words and expressions shared in this video, we hope you also understand the essence of an HBCU chant!

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.

Eid-al-Fitr (April 10, 2024 - tentative)

Gathering of Nations Pow Wow (April 25-27, 2024)

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month (May)

Mental Health Awareness Month (May)

Jewish American Heritage Month (May)

Cinco de Mayo (May 5, 2024)

Mother’s Day (May 12, 2024)

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (May 17, 2024)

Malcolm X’s Birthday (May 19)

LGBTQ+ Pride Month (June)

Caribbean American Heritage Month (June)

Loving Day (June 12, 2024)

Juneteenth (June 19, 2024)

Father’s Day (June 16, 2024)

Independence Day (July 4)

Women’s Equality Day (August 26)

Disclaimer: The Hyde-Addison ES Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force is an independent group not associated with DCPS and any viewpoints or activities associated with this group are not endorsed by DCPS.