page background

Equity & Inclusion Newsletter

June 2022, Staff Edition

Equity & InclusionNewsletterJune 2022, Staff Edition

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!

zoom_out_map

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

zoom_out_map

Watch

this read aloud video of the Pura Belpré honor Islandborn, by Pulitzer Prize winning author Junot Díaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Here's the blurb about the text from the publisher: "Every kid in Lola’s school was from somewhere else. Hers was a school of faraway places. So when Lola’s teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can’t remember The Island—she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories...Lola’s imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island...Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela’s words: “Just because you don’t remember a place doesn’t mean it’s not in you.”

Photo Source: Penguin Randomhouse

zoom_out_map

Listen

to the many talented Caribbean American musicians! From Rihanna (Barbados) to Celia Cruz (Cuba) to Bob Marley (Jamaica) to Wyclef Jean (Haiti) to Luis Fonsi. (Puerto Rico)...the list goes on and on!

By Presidential Proclamation, June is also LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. For this month’s curated resources, students from our PHS GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) have selected the following offerings to share with you as Region 15 staff! Enjoy!

zoom_out_map

Watch

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 think we know about race, class, gender, and identity." Our students recommended this watch: What I Hear When You Say: When Did You Become Gay?

Photo Source: PBS

zoom_out_map

Read

This presentation from a summer 2021 LGBTQIA+ working group:

Originally shared in video format featuring Region 15 students with all staff at the start of this school year, the above PDF is something GSA members at the high school wanted to remind Region 15 staff about and recommend it as a useful resource to revisit, or to take in for the first time if you joined Region 15 staff after the start of the school year!


Also: Welcoming Schools has an abundance of resources for school staff that are very supportive!

zoom_out_map

Listen

to our students, to research, to 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, and understand how we as school employees can set the tone and create a climate where our students actually do feel welcome.


In the spirit of learning, and here are 2 resources to do that. Cult of Pedagogy's post "Make School A Safe Place for LGBTQ+ Students" and GLSEN's whole website (though linked here are educator & research webinars) are some places to start. Please reach out for more resources!

Photo Source: GLSEN

Teaching & Learning about Juneteenth

What do you already know about Juneteenth? 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." In addition to last week's state legislation recognizing Juneteenth as a legal state holiday, last year in 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday.


How do you teach and learn about Juneteenth? Here are a few starting places:


Recent Work Spotlight: Gainfield Elementary School

On May 20, Gainfield Elementary School came together for their monthly Gainfield Gathering and focused on cultural diversity in honor of the annual United Nations' World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The Gainfield Gathering included the opportunity for the school to lift their voices together in song with their rendition below of We Are the World, and a special video project on grandparents, which you can also check out by clicking here, to name a few highlights.


This theme was carried throughout the day. Many classrooms hosted lessons, shares, and visits on cultural diversity among students, family, and community members connected to the children in Gainfield School! The entire school also enjoyed the gift of time with Valerie Tutson, a multiple award-winning storyteller. She draws her stories from around the world with an emphasis on African traditions. Her repertoire includes stories and songs she learned in her travels to South Africa, her experiences in West Africa and stories from African American history.

zoom_out_map
Sahnai shared about her Jamaican heritage, including a focus on the beauty of the physical landscape, food, and her personal connections to family in & from Jamaica
zoom_out_map
Avah and her mom shared about Chinese culture including Lunar New Year, language, and read & discussed a recommended read aloud, Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao
zoom_out_map
The Drago family presented about Italy, specifically focusing on the city of Milan, known for fashion, and all students had hands on time with materials to put their inspiration into fashion creations
zoom_out_map
Lucy and her aunt shared about Indian culture, experiences living in India, and the celebration of Holi. They explained that Holi is a festival of color and the similarities to color runs, like GES had just the day before. It was the perfect time of year to learn about this since Holi signifies the arrival of spring. The book you see in the picture is a recommended read!: Festival of Colors
zoom_out_map
Charly and her dad shared about their Italian heritage, and even brought all the makings for an important dish. They drew parallels between the importance of noodles as a cultural food staple across places!
zoom_out_map
Valerie Tutson, professional storyteller and cultural artist, working with students on the power of storytelling to know ourselves and one another deeper, and as bridge-building across cultures, traditions, generations
zoom_out_map
Mia's family friends joined her first grade class to share about Ecuador
zoom_out_map
Lucas' mom joined his first grade class to teach us about Puerto Rico and danced some Salsa and Bomba together
zoom_out_map
Solomia's mom shared on Ukraine, and students created their names in Ukrainian with play doh
We Are The World

On Demand Professional Learning

Two of my favorite sites to access any time! A shortlist of some favorite selections truly with something for everyone! These on-demand webinars and podcasts may interest you this summer in the quest to continuously further our learning and do best by the students entrusts to our care, their families, and the diverse world we live in.


Coffee & Conversations from Achieve the Core

Podcasts from Learning for Justice & Webinar Archive, too

Local Upcoming Events!

  • Ridgefield Community Programs, Pride in the Park, Ridgefield, June 4, 12-3

  • Institute for American Indian Studies: Bark basket workshop in Washington, CT, June 5: Baskets have long been an integral part of Native American culture as storage containers, carrying baskets, cradleboards and in burial practices. Bark from pine, ash, or birch was often used to make the baskets and sewn together with spruce root. Join Jennifer Lee, Narragansett descent, who will guide participants in making a traditional bark basket. More info & registration here

  • Southbury Public Library: Not Just a Phase: Supporting LGBTQ Youth in Today's Climare, June 12, 3-4:30 pm

  • Middlebury Public Library: Fit 345: Yoga, Hiphop, and Tabata classes for kids, June 22-August 10, More info here.

  • Southbury Public Library: Trans 101, June 21: More info here.
  • Southbury Public Library: LGBTQ+ 101 and How to be a Supportive Ally for adults, June 23: Register here.
  • Southbury Public Library: LGBTQ+ 101 and How to be a Supportive Ally for teens grades 6-12, June 30: Register here
  • Quassy Amusement Park: Pride in the Hills Family Fun Day, June 25: A sponsored friends & family fun day for LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and friends. More info here
zoom_out_map

Region 15 Website: Equity & Inclusion Council Website

Click here to access the landing page through Region 15's website.
zoom_out_map

Middlebury and Southbury Equity & Inclusion Council Website

Click here to access the website created by and for the Southbury and Middlebury Equity & Inclusion Council.
zoom_out_map

Community bulletin board

Attention all Region 15 community members and organizations! Do you have an opportunity that you'd like to publicize? Are you looking for opportunities to be involved in the community? Click here to access the community bulletin board!


If you'd like to publicize an opportunity, simply follow the directions on this page.

zoom_out_map

Contact

Instagram: r15equity_inclusion


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