DEI

UNIDOS! During Latine Heritage Month, we take time to celebrate the histories, cultures and vast contributions of American citizens with Latinx backgrounds. The theme for 2022 is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation .” On that note, we encourage you to come out to the Latine Potluck on Thursday, Oct 6 organized by the student equity board (we will be at a community table) and tune in to musician and advocate Doris Anahi Munoz’s keynotezoom on Wednesday, Oct 12. Parent volunteers are still needed for both events and a few other projects. If you can give 1-2 hours on the front lines or behind the scenes, please let us know.
 
September was National Deaf Awareness month. Tru Biz, a popular novel, centers on deaf culture. The story highlights numerous ways in which the hearing community is desensitized to those with hearing loss. Check it out, the book offers a lot of food for thought. Also, the football “huddle” is widely believed to have originated from deaf athletes who used the circle formation to keep their signed play calls hidden from the opposing football team.
 
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Shanah Tovah! The Jewish High Holidays begin this weekend. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starts today at sunset and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, Sept 27. Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement” and holiest day of the year in Judaism, starts on Tuesday, Oct 4 at sundown and ends at nightfall on Oct 5. After Yom Kippur, the festive holidays of Sukkot and Simchat Torah follow, concluding the fall holiday celebrations. Click here to learn more about the High Holidays.
 
As we continue to honor Latine Heritage month, we discovered more about its origins through the National Archives primary sources. Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 and was expanded to a 30-day period in 1988. U.S.. Representatives from California played key roles in drafting the legislation that became law.
 
Join us on Thursday, Oct 6 at 5pm to celebrate Latine Heritage Month with a live performance and food. Sign up to bring a dish to the Latine Potluck.
 
Last, thanks to Arshay Cooper for sharing his wisdom and positivity this past Monday night. We appreciate the hundreds of students and parents who showed up to listen and contribute to the conversation. Read about it in Blueprint. #donsshowup
 
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Book a Night Out with Your Student! Over the next several weeks, Acalanes is hosting a set of engaging evenings open to students and parents. We encourage you to join and to talk to your students about attending at least one community event with (or without) you. Drawing on a theme that keeps bubbling up from our speakers over the last 24 months, we build the community we want to live in with our actions. These upcoming activities are great opportunities to meet new people and make new connections.

• TOMORROW NIGHT, Monday Sept 19, Arshay Cooper will share how he chose hope despite many obstacles. Arshay doesn’t shy away from talking about uncertainty and difficult circumstances. But, he also talks about developing trust, making space for feelings, and naming the things that can hold us back so we can go forward. He shares powerful life lessons through his accessible and entertaining storytelling. Moderated by AUHSD students!
• On Thursday, Oct 6 at 5:30pm students are hosting a potluck in the quad and are inviting all parents to attend so let’s show up! Sign up to bring a dish & celebrate Latine Heritage Month in community.
• On Wednesday, Oct 12 at 6:30pm singer, recording executive and advocate DorisAnahi Munoz will be joining us to share her unique story. Disney recently picked up the rights to her movie, Mija which shares about her life, her music career and the pressure of success.

As a reminder, Sept 15 to Oct 15 is Latine Heritage Month! We honor the heritage, culture, and peoples of the Latine community. How are you celebrating? Let us know!
 
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AUHSD has the privilege of hosting Arshay Cooper on Monday, Sept 19.  Cooper’s memoir, “A Most Beautiful Thing”, describes growing up with the stresses of gang violence, drugs and poverty, but how an unexpected encounter with a rowing coach turned out to be a life changing experience. Mr. Cooper will dive into his life story, what it took to be part of the first all black high school rowing crew in a historically privileged white male sport and how he developed into the person he is today. The event will be student moderated.
 
Don’t just take our word for it, parent Dan Meade has this to say about Arshay’s appearance in 2020:

“I really enjoyed Arshay’s book and presentation to the Acalanes community. His experience growing up as a young man, and his perspective on overcoming adversity, were inspiring to students and parents alike. Arshay is a great communicator and a worthy role model!”

Also coming up are events and activities celebrating Latine Heritage month. Mark your calendars for a community potluck the evening of Thursday, Oct 6 and a special guest on Wednesday, Oct 12.
 
Please see the Student Activities section below for more details on all of these events.
 
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Volunteer opportunities for Acalanes DEI – get involved! We are looking for new people to join our efforts and get in on the highly relevant work of DEI. Email us! We have a spot for everybody and the time commitment is low.
 
Arshay Cooper is coming back! And this time he joins us in person. The three hundred (yes – 300!) of you who turned out for his 2020 speaking engagement know what a special night this will be when Arshay joins us on Monday, Sept 19 from 6:30-7:30pm. Block off your calendar now! Additional details on this event are included in the Student Activities section below.
 
Questions, comments or thoughts to share? Contact us.
 
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We belong together: DEI is looking for a handful of volunteers to round out our committee and it is important to us that it is a good reflection of our community-at-large. Plus, we have exciting speakers lined up for this fall and it will be a good time welcoming them to Acalanes. We could use help with social media, communications, photography, membership recruitment, data analysis, speakers, and also a few liaisons to work with other parent groups and support student activities. Reach out and let’s talk about which role fits you best.
 
Did you hear about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)? ACP will help families that might not otherwise be able to afford high-speed internet. If you know families that might qualify, help spread the word.
 
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Endangered animals, skiing, model UN, Jewish culture…we support the work of many of our student clubs! Every student belongs at Acalanes, and their interests help form meaningful connections on campus. Talk to your student about joining or starting a club. Bonus – clubs meet during the school day so students can work it into their schedules. Learn more here. 
 
Let’s Cheer!  ACA debuts first female football player.
 
As many of you may have recently seen, Acalanes has its first female football player on the JV team this year. Lucca DeBiasse and her teammates will help to kick off our Dons football season soon and as they do, we are reminded that football has the power to bring us together. Check out this inspiring trailer for “First Down”, a gripping short film on an underdog, all-girls, high school tackle football league that shows why girls also belong in pads and how players empower one another on and off the field. “We all have different backgrounds, but when we get on the field together we are all the same…we want to do big things and make this history.”
 
We are social: Follow us on Instagram: @acalanesdei 

APC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee extends a warm welcome to all our families and invites you to connect with our committee.
 
We look forward to participating in a number of Fall activities including:

• Latine Heritage Month
• LGBT History Month
• United Against Hate Week (a Tri-City collaboration)

We will host a kick-off meeting soon, but in the meantime, we can use a few more parents to help with our communications and social media. No experience needed and low time commitment. Click here to find out more.
 
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Do you enjoy sharing interesting information about different people and cultures? Please volunteer to help us with communications for next year! Email us here or visit our Acalanes DEI website. Other committee positions are open too!

Thursday, June 2, 6:00pm. Save the Date for the third Angelversary of Miles Hall‘s death. Please help us turn Pain into Purpose with a Miles For Miles: Walk For Justice and Rally. Meet at Remembrance Park between Lilac Dr and Newell in Walnut Creek at 6pm and walk together to Civic Park (1.3 miles) for a special event to honor Miles at 7:15pm. Park at Las Lomas High School.

In honor of Jewish Heritage Month we spotlight Ralph Kuznitzki, a 15-year-old Jewish refugee living in the US during World War II. He was housed at the Ft. Ontario refugee camp near Oswego, NY, where he was able to attend local schools. Kuznitzki wrote this composition, The Flower and I for a high school English assignment.

Notice something different at this year’s Met Gala? The historically exclusive fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY has come under fire recently, with fashion experts agreeing that exclusivity is outdated. “Because of the industry’s interest in selling aspirational, unattainable fantasy, it may never be able to change until cultural standards of beauty steer away from thin and white…” writes USA Today.

Do you love reading this section of the newsletter every week? Are you curious about different people and cultures? Please consider volunteering for one of our communications spots for next year. For more information, email us here or visit our Acalanes DEI website. Other committee positions are open too!