Building an Inclusive Community

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH

May is a time to recognize the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.  The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

A Different Asian American Timeline
31 People to Celebrate in May
What is the Model Minority Myth?
Asian American Children’s Books

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

May is Jewish American Heritage Month.  This is a time to recognize the indelible contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to our nation’s history, culture, and society. The month of May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration of the 350th Anniversary of American Jewish History in May 2004, which was organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZQM52Hs60a/
Sourced from Teach and Transform

14 Ways to Celebrate

AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH

Autism Acceptance Month was created by and for the autistic community to change the conversation around autism, shifting it away from stigmatizing "autism awareness" language that presents autism as a threat to be countered with vigilance. 

5 Ways to Celebrate Autism Acceptance:

• Recommend and go to Autism-Friendly Businesses
• Raise awareness with what you wear
• Learn about fantastic people with autism
• Read a new autism blog
• Recommend your favorite autism books or check out some new ones

Resources:

Autismspeaks

Autism Society

DEAF HISTORY MONTH

National Deaf History Month is a great time to learn more about our Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing friends and community members and bring awareness to their lived experiences. Deaf History Month recognizes the accomplishments of those who are hard of hearing and deaf, commemorated every year from March 13 to April 15. Deaf History is celebrated during this time of year because of three major events in American history: The first public school for the deaf, the American School for the Deaf, opened on April 15, 1817. On April 8, 1864, Gallaudet University, the first institution of higher education for the deaf and hard of hearing, was founded. Almost a century later, on March 13, 1988, Gallaudet University hired its first deaf president. 

Ways to Celebrate Deaf History Month:

• Learn sign language
• Share stories from deaf creators
• Support deaf businesses
• Learn about d/Deaf culture
• Join a d/Deaf group (ie: Phonak hEARos)
• Advocate deaf accessibility at work and in your community
• Volunteer at non-profits, civil liberties groups, or school for the Deaf

Resources:

National Association for the Deaf

Black History Month

The theme for 2022 focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness. This theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.

Check out this Article: Teaching the Complete History - A Few excerpts

• Only teaching a Black history steeped in trauma and struggle provides a very narrow view of Blackness and perpetuates the false notion of Black people’s inferiority. This limited teaching of history can actually be violent. 
• You can also work with students to examine other efforts and movements in which Black people resisted subjugation. These efforts include the work of the Black Panther Party and the Black Power and “Black Is Beautiful” movements. Students can learn more about Black queer liberation and womanism movements, which provided a template for activism today, such as Black Lives Matter

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival will fall on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022, starting a year of the Tiger.

Books About Lunar New Year

January 27th is Holocaust Rememberance Day.  This day marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.  In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah.  The theme guiding the United Nations Holocaust remembrance and education is “Memory, Dignity and Justice”.

In the wake of the most recent hate crimes, below are resources for the classroom:

2021 Holocaust Rememberance Day Commemorative Ceremony Video
Teaching Resources
Talking to Children about Anti-Semitism Resoucres 

Discussion Prompts:

How does the writing of history and the act of remembering bring dignity and justice to those whom the perpetrators of the Holocaust intended to obliterate?

How does the distortion of history threaten the possibility of dignity and justice?

MLK Day Choir led by Dr. Mowatt produced by Ryan Lawrence

Upcoming Events :

Belonging in Gender and Sexual Identiy Conference 2022

Native American Heritage Month

RESOURCES:

Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks: Telling More Complete Narratives in your Classroom
Harvest Ceremony
Am I Using the Right Word?
Do American Indians Celebrate Thanksgiving?

Diversify Your Universe

The National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Cinema Showcase is an annual celebration of the best in Native film. This year's showcase focuses on Native people boldly asserting themselves through language, healing, building community, and a continued relationship with the land. Activism lies at the heart of all these stories. The showcase provides a unique forum for engagement with Native filmmakers from Indigenous communities throughout the Western Hemisphere and Arctic.

Activism

How Native American Women Inspired the Women's Rights Movement

Here are a few inspiring Indigenous American activist accounts:

@autumn.peltier
@repdavids
@WinonaLaDuke
@nativeapprops
@lilnativeboy
@hawanemusic
@QueenYoNasDa
@repdebhaaland
@calinalawrence

Hispanic Heritage Month

Wednesday begins Hispanic Heritage Month, this is one of many opportunities to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx People.  There are many opportunities to learn and teach about the beautiful cultures and traditions.  Please join us in learning more about the ways in which Hispanic people have made and continue to make their mark on every part of American life and culture.

The Difference Between Hispanic and Latinx

Teaching Resources:

Learning for Justice
Latinx Heritage Month Resources to Use all Year Long
Anticipated Latinx Books of 2021

Please Share: Hispanic/Latinx People and Stories that Have Inspired You
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