Building An Inclusive Community

As we move through June, I will share resources to celebrate Pride Month!

Below is information and a timeline that details important dates that lead up to the official celebration of Gay Pride. Throughout this month I will share voices from the LGBTQ Community and strategies for creating inclusive school and community environments. All will be posted on the Key's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion webpage. 

The Stonewall Riots
June 28, 1969 - In New York, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in bar patrons, staff and neighborhood residents rioting onto Christopher Street outside.

June 28, 1970 - On the first anniversary of the police raid on the Stonewall Inn, gay activists in New York organized the Christopher Street Liberation March to cap off the city's first Gay Pride Week. As several hundred people began marching up 6th Avenue toward Central Park, supporters from the crowd joined them. The procession eventually stretched some 15 city blocks, encompassing thousands of people.

June 25, 1978 -The rainbow flag, which has become a universal symbol of hope for LGBTQ people around the world, first flew in San Francisco's United Nations Plaza for Gay Pride Day.It was designed by Gilbert Baker, an openly gay artist and activist.

Here are several resources that may be of interest:
Understanding Gender Webinar on June 1, 2020
Understand Gender as Non-binary
Supporting LGBTQ Students during Social Distancing
Why Gender Pronouns?

"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." ― Audre Lorde

We are excited about the opportunity to honor these important voices in our community. Throughout the month, we'll highlight resources that center these voices.

5/1 - This week, we are sharing the Smithsonian Website which features the diversity of Asia and the Asian experience. Below are a few articles that help us to gain insight into the richness of Asian culture during May and all year. These resources can prompt meaningful discussions at home that may foster learning, empathy and advocacy.

Jenifer Moore
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

I am Asian America
Beyond Bollywood
What is the Model Minority Myth
(In)visible Identity  

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5/7 - This week we highlight Jewish American Heritage Month. In 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month, recognizing over three centuries of Jewish contributions to American culture. The month of May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004.

The following resources provide some insight in Jewish-American life and diverse stories of aspiration, resilience and determination:

Jewish American History
Addressing Antisemitic Hate with Students
Radio and the Yiddish-American Cultural Renaissance
Jewish Women
The National Register of Historic Places 

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5/14 - May is Mental Health Awareness Month. While 450 million people world-wide are living with mental illness, everyone faces challenges that can impact mental well-being. Community awareness and de-stigmatization allows for transparent conversations about mental health. Now more than ever, there are environmental impacts that weigh heavily on both students and adults in our community. Here are some statistics:

• Suicide rates have increased by nearly 30 percent across all age groups in the last two decades. (CDC)
• As many as one in five children between ages 3 and 17 have a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. (CDC)
• In 75 percent of all lifetime cases, the onset of mental illness happens by age 24. (NAMI)
• 70 percent of youth in state and local juvenile justice systems have a mental illness. (NAMI)

Inclusive communities teach themselves about mental health because it is imperative to create environments in which everyone thrives by normalizing conversations about mental health.

Here are some links to help in that effort:
Mental Health Month Toolkit
Upcoming Webinars about Mental Health

The first Women's Day took place on February 28, 1909, in New York City. Women's History Week was introduced in 1978, timed around International Women's Day, which the United Nations had begun officially marking in 1975. In 1982, at the request of Congress, President Ronald Reagan made a proclamation announcing Women's History Week, which he continued for several years. The Women's National History Project lobbied for a longer observation and Congress passed a proclamation in 1987 establishing Women's History Month.

At Key, we celebrate the women of our past, present and future. Below are links to several resources you may find of interest as we celebrate Women's History Month!

Jenifer Moore
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Maryland's Events Calendar
Maryland Celebrates the Year of the Woman
Women's History Month 

Black History Month was started by Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Here at Key, students learn about the contributions of African Americans through class discussions, projects, read-ins, literature, and music. Below is a short list of resources, celebrations and events that may be of interest to Key families.

Jenifer Moore
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Local Events

• Prince George's County Black History Month Salute
• African American Heritage Tour
• The Naval Academy Black History Month Celebration

Events in DC

Local Library Family Events

• Howard County Libraries
• Prince Georges County Libraries
• Anne Arundel County Libraries

Diverse Books Resource

Google Celebrates Black History Month: The Most Searched