In The Loop

Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

In This Edition

Hispanic Heritage Month 2023
Resources for Families
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Looking for More? Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity by Dr. Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple
PDE Equity Resources

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month spans from September 15th through October 15th, every year. For 30 years, Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan issued yearly proclamations to set aside a week to honor Hispanic Americans. In 1987 U.S. Representative Esteban E. Torres of California proposed expanding the observance from a week to a month. He wanted to increase the time the country could "properly observe and coordinate events and activities to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement." It was enacted into law with the approval of Public Law 100-402 on August 17th, 1988.

The dates of September 15th and October 15th hold significance throughout Latin America. September 15th is celebrated as Independence Day in El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Respectively the Independence Days of Mexico and Chile fall on September 16th and September 18th. This year’s themes are: Prosperity, Power, and Progress. These themes were selected to highlight the influence of Latinos in political, economic, and social growth of the U.S.

There are several events happening in and around the greater Philadelphia Area to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Please see the information here to join in the celebrations.

Resources:

We Are Teachers:

Books for Hispanic Heritage Month

National Museum of American Latino:

30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States

Today

30 Famous Hispanic Heritage Month Quotes to Share Now and Forever

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Resources for Families

A PARENT’S GUIDE to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice (Southern Law Center)

Talking About Race (Smithsonian)

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Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Falling in the month of Tishrei (September or October in the Gregorian calendar), it marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The holiday is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of Judaism’s holiest days. Meaning “head of the year” or “first of the year,” the festival begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls during September or October. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two “High Holy Days” in the Jewish religion.

Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism’s “High Holy Days.” Rosh Hashanah 2023 begins on Friday, September 15, 2023, and ends on the evening of Sunday, September 17, 2023. The exact date of Rosh Hashanah varies every year since it is based on the Hebrew Calendar, where it begins on the first day of the seventh month. Rosh Hashanah is almost always in September or October. Yom Kippur 2023 begins on the evening of Sunday, September 24 and ends on the evening of Monday, September 25.

To those celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Shanah Tovah! (“A good year!”)

and Yom Tov! (“Have a good holy day!”)

Sources:

History Channel: Rosh Hashanah

History Channel: Yom Kippur

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Looking for More?

In Belonging through a Culture of Dignity, Cobb and Krownapple argue that the cause of these struggles are largely based on the failure of educators to consider the foundational elements upon which educational equity is based, belonging and dignity. Through this work, the authors make these concepts accessible and explain their importance in the implementation of educational equity initiatives. Though the importance of dignity and belonging might appear to be self-evident at first glance, it’s not until these concepts are truly unpacked, that educators realize the dire need for belonging through dignity. Once these fundamental human needs are understood, educators can gain clarity of the barriers to meaningful student relationships, especially across dimensions of difference such as race, class, and culture. Even the most relational and responsive educators need this clarity due to the normalization of what the authors refer to as dignity distortions. Cobb and Krownapple challenge that normalization and offer three concepts as keys to successful equity initiatives: inclusion, belonging, and dignity. Through their work, the authors aim to equip educators with the tools necessary to deliver the promise of democracy through schools by breaking the cycle of equity dysfunction once and for all.

PDE Equity and Inclusion