May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).
Like most commemorative months, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450, which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the first immigrants from Japan to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
The following resources are being shared to support you in learning about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage:
https://www.asianpacificheritage.gov/
https://edsitement.neh.gov/closer-readings/asian-pacific-heritage-month
Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is an annual recognition and celebration of American Jews' achievements and contributions to the United States of America during the month of May.
President George W. Bush first proclaimed the month on April 20, 2006, as a result of cooperation with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), as well as the Jewish Museum of Florida and the South Florida Jewish Community. Since then, annual proclamations have been made by Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden.
In 2020 the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia altered Jewish American Heritage Month to empower communities across the country to celebrate the inspiring history of Jewish people in America; educate diverse public audiences about Jewish culture; and spark crucial conversations about the American Jewish present and future.
The following resources are being shared to support you in learning about Jewish American Heritage Month:
National Archives- Jewish American Heritage Month
The purpose of this commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as ‘Gay Pride Day,’ but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the ‘day’ soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. Influenced by the successes of the Civil Rights movement, this month celebrates civil rights and brings attention to current civil/human rights issues.
The following resources are being shared to support you in learning about LGBTQIA+:
https://youth.gov/feature-article/june-lgbt-pride-month
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/01/health/pride-month-explainer/index.html
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For the past 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being. Mental health is an important part of children’s overall health and well-being. Mental health includes children’s mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being. It affects how children think, feel, and act. It also plays a role in how children handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Some of the conditions of mental health disorders occur together making it difficult for children to learn and thrive. Due to awareness, many people with mental health struggles are speaking up and out including public figures which is leading to progress in breaking down mental health stigmas.
The following resources are being shared to support you in learning about Mental Health Awareness Month:
https://www.samhsa.gov/programs/mental-health-awareness-month
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, is a holiday celebrated annually on June 19th to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. On this day in 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free. This announcement came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. The delay was due to Texas being a remote
and isolated state, as well as resistance from slave owners who refused to acknowledge the proclamation. Juneteenth has since become a symbol of the end of slavery in the United States and a celebration of Black culture, history, and resilience. There are various ways to celebrate Juneteenth, including attending parades and festivals, organizing community events, learning and teaching about the history of the holiday, and supporting Black-owned businesses. Some cities hold
Juneteenth events that include live music, food, and performances. Another way to celebrate is by attending educational events and panel discussions that explore the history of Juneteenth and the ongoing fight for racial justice. Supporting Black-owned businesses is also an important way to celebrate Juneteenth, as it highlights the contributions and successes of the Black
community. Additionally, individuals can volunteer or donate to organizations that work towards racial equality and social justice, as well as engage in self-reflection and action towards educating one another and seeing our experiences as part of our overall human story.
The following resources are being shared to support you in learning about Juneteenth:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/
On May 1, 2023, the Division of Equity hosted fifty-seven of our Student Equity Ambassadors for an in-person meeting at the Administration Building. This three hour session was the last meeting of the year for our ambassadors. Our incredible group of middle and high school students engaged in activities and dialogue about diversity, inclusion, identity and belonging, what that looks like in schools and why it is important for optimal learning conditions. These elements were the last in our equity literate Path of the JEDI progression for the school year (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion). Throughout the year we have collected student voice from our JEDIs to plan a learning progression that is relevant, timely and fun. Some of the student voice data shared from the May 1st meeting are below:
Total Responses: 47
The meeting was informative and fun: 47 Yes; 0 No
I learned something new by participating in the meeting: 45 Yes; 2 No
What are some topics dealing with equity that you would like to learn more about?
Human psychology concerning the issues of people’s ethnicity/ races
How to improve the student environment in and outside of classes Ex: how we could prevent bullying situations, harassment, and stress
How to combat pushback for the student body. Ways to get the community involved in school equity steps.
How to balance personal beliefs with the beliefs of others. When expressing your beliefs and voice is appropriate.
More on the J in JEDI, Justice
How can we improve the SEA meetings in the future?
To improve SEA meetings in the future, I think that there should be more in-person meetings, as well as more opportunities to make physical changes (such as a group/club/meeting space) in each individual school.
I think we should start doing more projects for the county. I love that everyone is discussing their experiences but I think it would help to take action physically too. IDK if that makes sense.
More complex topics that are thought-provoking and can be achieved via asking less obvious questions to make the most of the time at hand.
It is already really good but we can make more collaborative activities together
Aside from the PTA meetings, I believe that students should be able to interact with adults both on the administrative team and in our community to better adapt to rapid changes
