October is LGBTQ+ History, Global Diversity Awareness, National Disability Employment Awareness, & Filipino American History Month
October is LGBTQ+ History, Global Diversity Awareness, National Disability Employment Awareness, and Filipino American History Month! We shared a bit about the history of each month, along with resources, in last year's October issue which you can read here. Here is a brief summary:
LGBTQ+ History Month
This month is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of LGBTQ+ icons and role models and was founded by Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson. The day has been endorsed by GLAAD, Human Right Campaign, and other national organizations. Learn more about the month on the LGBT History Month website.
Global Diversity Awareness Month
This month began with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and was founded to acknowledge the value of each person regardless of nationality, color, race, sex, gender, country of origin, and language. Here are some idea for how to celebrate this month at work and at schools.
National Disablity Employment Awareness Month
This month was established following congressional Public Law 176 which referred only to physically handicapped employees. The U.S. Department of Labor expanded it to include all types of disabilities in 1945. Check out our interview with Eric Matthes of The Arc of King County last year for how to be a better ally and advocate for people with disabilities.
Filipino American History Month
Established in 1991, this month celebrates the rich history and contributions of Filipino Americans to our county dating back to 1587. Learn more about this month at the Filipino American National Historical Society website.
Upcoming Cultures Connecting Workshops
DEIB in an Age of Backlash with Dr. J.P. Anderson
October 9-10, 12:00-1:30pm PT/3:00-4:30pm ET on Zoom
This two day workshop unpacks and decodes anti-DEIB rhetoric and overviews the anti-DEIB legal and legislative tactics being implemented across the country, with the goal of providing participants a clearer understanding of the political climate now facing DEIB spaces. We will create a space to consider what strategies we can employ in the DEIB field to counter misleading rhetoric, purposeful misinformation, gaslighting, and outright hostility.
This workshop will help participants to develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate the changing social and political conditions impacting DEIB work.
This is coming up quickly so be sure to register today using the button below!
Transforming White Women's Leadership with Ilsa Govan & Tilman Smith
November 8, 9:00-12:00pm PT/12:00-1:00pm ET on Zoom
This workshop will support participants to deepen awareness of the combination of institutional power, privilege, and stereotypes white women leaders both hold and perpetuate, supporting them in becoming more compassionate anti-racist managers and supervisors. Using case studies, personas, and real workplace examples, we’ll provide space for interactive small and large group discussion. Participants will leave better able to name and take responsibility for putting racial equity values into our leadership practices. This session is designed primarily for an audience of white women interested in growing their anti-racist leadership practices.
Reading to Belong: An Interview
"We talk a lot about achievement data and reading scores and all that. While that is important and valid, I constantly come back to—if students don't feel that they belong in our classrooms, if they don't have a connection, if they don't feel like they're valued, we've already lost. So to me, that's just the cornerstone of everything that we do."
-Alyson Lamont
We had the pleasure of interviewing the authors of Reading to Belong: Identity, Perspective, and Advocacy in the Elementary Grades, which provides tools for teachers to facilitate critical conversations with students on race and identity.
Alyson Lamont, Emilie Hard, and Pamela Washington talked about why belonging was important to student success, why teachers needed to have critical conversations on race and identity in their classrooms, and how the book provides support to teachers. We also spoke about their why for writing this book and what compelled them to move past just having conversations to actually doing something about it.
Visit our blog to read this important and inspiring interview and if you're a teacher or parent, pick up your copy today!
Cultures Connecting Annual Retreat
Our Cultures Connecting team recently went on our annual retreat. Pictured above from left to right are Caprice Hollins, Richard Kim, Judy Lee, Ilsa Govan, and J.P. Anderson.
We spent the day discussing the state of DEIBelonging work, our strategies for how to effectively approach the work, and shared our personal stories of belonging. We then broke for a taco lunch prepared by Caprice and Ilsa while getting to know each other and enjoying the lake views. We finished the day with a collage art project led by Judy. Each collage represents the various aspects of our lives and things that we've been thinking about. Can you guess which collage belongs to whom?*
Our retreat was not just an opportunity to discuss our work but to connect authentically, refresh, and renew our commitment to social justice. If you'd like to watch a short reel of our day, you can do so on our Instagram page here. Be sure to give us a follow if you'd like to watch more clips from our retreat.
*Hint: Check the end of this newsletter to see which collage belongs to whom.
We Endorse Nick Brown for Attorney General
Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 5th and we would like to remind you of our endorsement of Nick Brown for Attorney General.
Dr. Caprice Hollins states,
"I have known Mr. Brown for many years throughout different career paths. The one thing that remains steady is his commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Thank you Nick for your continued fight for social justice!"
Read our endorsement of him on our blog and learn more about his campaign at his website Nick Brown for Attorney General.
It's a new month which means taking a look at our Diversity Calendar to look at significant dates to consider when planning meetings or events to create greater inclusion. Click on the name of the day to learn more.
10/2-4: Rosh Hashanah (New Year) (Jewish)
10/3-12: Navaratri/Dussehra (Hindu)
10/11-12: Yom Kippur (Yom Kippur)
10/14: Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States)
10/14: Canadian Thanksgiving (Canadian)
10/16-23: Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) (Jewish)
10/23-25: Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
10/24-25: Simchat Torah (Jewish)
10/28: National Immigrants Day (United States)
10/31: Halloween (United States)
10/31-11/1: Diwali (Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist)
10/31-11/1: Samhain (Neo-Pagan)
Upcoming DEIB/Social Justice Events
For details on these and other events, workshops and conferences happening in the social justice space, visit our Events Calendar. If you have an event you would like us to share, please reach out to us!
10/01: Adaptive Leadership for Racial Equity Institute
10/01: NAMI BIPOC Support Group
10/02: Addressing JEDI + Intergenerational Tensions with Polarity Thinking
10/02: EquityEd: Antiracist Education Conference
10/02: Finding Freedom: The YES LAB: Sequel to Finding Freedom
10/02: ElevateHealth Implicit Bias Workshop
10/02: Latinx Futures: Exploration Into the Depths of Latinx Identity & Power
10/02: Come As You Are: Mindfulness on the Spot
10/03: Kintsugi 2024
10/03: EquityEd: Antiracist Education Conference
10/03: NAMI LGBTQ+ Support Group
10/04: Seeking the Forest: Reckoning with Our Roots for Racially Just Future
10/04: NAAM Unity Benefit
10/05: Aware LA: First Saturday Dialogue
10/07: Native Nonprofit: Building Community Together Conference
10/07: Teach the Black Freedom Struggle Online Class
10/08: Antiracist Development Group
10/08: NAMI BIPOC Support Group
10/09: Brave Conversations Course
10/09: DEIB in an Age of Backlash (Cultures Connecting)
10/09: Cross-Class Dialogue Circles
10/10: Leading with Inclusion: Creating a Culture of Belonging
10/10: CARW: Monthly Connection Circle
10/12: Foundations of Accessibility, Connection, & Dignity
10/14: Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice Lecture Series
10/15: Race Forward: Building Racial Equity (BRE)
10/15: The Tender Work: Acknowledging White Responsibility in a Racialized World
...and so much more! Visit our Events Calendar to see the most up-to-date full schedule.
Want a copy of the newsletter delivered to your email? We send out 2 issues per month. Subscribe here!