DEI

Things we are loving this week: Black Excellence Month. As we honor the contributions and influence of Black Americans in our culture, we want to put a spotlight on the autobiographical works of two master storytellers. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and A Most Beautiful Thing by Arshay Cooper were enormously popular in our parent book clubs and worth sharing again. Both are TBR worthy.
 
Do you have a recommendation or highlight to share about Black Excellence Month? Please chime in and we will do our best to share it!
 
Upcoming Community Conversations & Events:  Get to Know Acalanes DEI
Date TBD – planned for late February or early March
Informal meet-up to get to know one another. We will also be available to answer questions and talk about the past, present and future of our work. Sweet treats, savory sips and cool people provided. Email us so we can send you the exact date and location.
 
Being Heumann: Acclaimed Memoir of a Disability Rights Advocate
Tuesday, Feb 28 from 6-7:30pm, Orinda Books
Join Facing History to discuss Ms. Heumann’s life, her landmark civil rights activism, and how we can all be upstanders and advocates in our communities today. An RSVP is strongly encouraged if you’d like to attend.
 
Repairing the World: Stories From The Tree of Life
Thursday, Mar 9 from 7-9pm, Del Valle Theater
What if your community turned a blind eye to acts of aggression and did nothing to speak out against hate? Please join Campo DEIB for this free film event depicting how the city of Pittsburg, PA has come together to fight hate and extremism in the aftermath of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Moderated by Rabbi Jill Perlman of Temple Isaiah, there will be a Q&A session with director, Patrice O’Neill, after the film. Register for theevent here.
 
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It is that time of year for us…we are starting to outline our DEI goals and refresh our committee assignments. We would love your input and involvement and you can click here to share any thoughts that might help shape next year’s work.
 
The Day of Remembrance on Sunday, Feb 19 is an opportunity to reflect on the motivation behind, and the impact of, Executive Order 9066 signed in 1942 which led to the unjust, forced internment of more than 100,000 persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast during World War II. History may not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Join us in putting the lessons of the past into action today.
 
SAVE THE DATE Thursday, Mar 9 from 7-9pm: Campolindo Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging is excited to host the showing of Repairing the World: Stories from the Treeof Life, a Not In Our Town film depicting how the city of Pittsburg has come together to fight hate and extremism in the aftermath of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. This will be a free event at Del Valle Theater on Thursday, Mar 9 from 7-9pm. ALL are welcome to attend. There will be a Q&A session after with Director Patrice O’Neill. More information is included with the link to RSVP/register. 
 
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list, become a guest contributor or share feedback.

Beyond the Binary: Helping Parents Support Their Kids With Navigating Gender, Tuesday, Feb 7 from 6-7pm over Zoom
This event, brought to us by AUHSD Wellness, will be presented by Rainbow Community Center and you can register here. Watch party? If you are interested in gathering with a small, supportive group to view this webinar, please email us.
 
Black Excellence Month is underway. Student-organized events are taking place throughout the month and all students are welcome to join. For parents, we point you to a letter by Dr. Brent Stephens. It is a good read.
 
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list, become a guest contributor or  share feedback.

AUHSD honors Black Excellence Month starting Feb. 1. Can you name the scholar whose dedication to celebrating the historic contributions of Black Americans led to the establishment of Black History Month? If not, click here for the bio.
 
Events Happening this Month: 

• A Night in New Orleans – All Student Dance, Friday, Feb 3, 7-9pm in the Acalanes Gym

Let’s get our Dons to turn up for this unique, all schools dance! Have them tag a friend or two at another school. This is an excellent opportunity for our students to come together for a relaxed, non-competitive evening and connect with friends across the district. Thank you to the BSUs for hosting. Tickets are $10 on GoFan. Parent volunteers are also needed so please reach out if you can help.

• Black College Expo, Feb 4, 10am-5pm

This will take place at Oakland Marriott City Center and additional information and registration details can be found here. In addition, this article may be a good resource for students thinking about applying to HBCUs.
 

• Beyond the Binary: Helping Parents Support Their Kids With Navigating Gender, Tuesday, Feb 7 from 6-7pm over Zoom

This event is presented by Rainbow Community and you can register here. Watch party? If you are interested in gathering with a small, supportive group to view this webinar, please email us.
 
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list.

Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, begins today, Jan 22. Did you know that San Francisco has celebrated Lunar New Year in some form since the Gold Rush era of the 1860s? If you haven’t heard of Chunyun, you might want to stream “Last Train Home” by Lixin Fan, an astonishing documentary about this annual migration during Lunar New Year and its human scale.
 
Upcoming Events and Announcements

• Asian/South-Asian/Asian-American Parents Happy Hour Jan 27, 5:30-8pm at Town Bakery & Cafe in Moraga: If you are a Walamorinda Asian, South Asian, or South/Asian-American identifying parent/guardian, please join us for an affinity space Happy Hour! Free light appetizers and drinks for purchase. Hope you can join us for this informal gathering (parents only event). Please RSVP here.
• Attention Parents of Athletes in Female Sports: The Voice In Sport Foundation (VISF) has introduced The Fair Play for Women Act that will strengthen TITLE IX through better education, stronger enforcement and greater transparency in data and reporting. Student athletes can join the VIS Advocate Program to receive FREE advocacy training and contribute to gender equity at your school. All advocates gain access to the VOICEINSPORT platform where they can meet with experts in sports psychology, nutrition, and talk one on one with their favorite college and professional women athletes!
• For Your Student: A Night in New Orleans Takes Over the Acalanes Gym

The district Black Student Unions (BSUs) are co-hosting a New Orleans-themed dance on Friday, Feb 3 at 7pm for all AUHSD students. More information is available in the Student Activities section below and will be available in the Daily Don. Tickets are $10 on GoFan.

Happy MLK Day! January is full of opportunities to engage, explore and support one another in striving to be our best selves. Highlighted below are activities ripe with potential to add value and enrich our lives.
 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan 16: If you are still trying to find a local event to help you honor the life, legacy and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his groundbreaking social justice and equity work, check out this guide.
 
January is Poverty Awareness Month: Several of the local elementary schools are recognizing the month by participating in the “Life through Another Lens” Book Challenge. If you would like to follow suit, Oxfam recommends these books to better understand poverty. Additionally, the US Census Bureau shares thought provoking data and statisticson American poverty for those who want to learn more.
 
Asian/South-Asian/Asian-American Parents Happy Hour Jan 27 5:30-8pm
If you are a Walamorinda Asian, South Asian, or South/Asian-American identifying parent/guardian, please join us for an affinity space Happy Hour! There will be free light appetizers and drinks for purchase. The happy hour will take place at Town Bakery & Cafe in Moraga. Hope you can join us for this informal gathering (parents only event).  Please RSVP here.
 
Questions, suggestions or feedback? Share here.

Jan 19 Event ON HOLD: Please note that the LGBTQ+ parenting education event scheduled for Jan 19 will most likely be postponed. More information will be shared as soon as possible.
 
In the meantime, the Orinda School District (OUSD) invites Lafayette parents to attend an upcoming Parent Education Workshop:

Parent Education about Racial Consciousness
with Dr. Lori Watson
Tuesday, Jan 10 from 5-7pm
Register Here

OUSD is pleased to offer this event about racial consciousness with Dr. Lori Watson, a founder and the CEO of Race-Work. She will be leading a four-part series for parents/caregivers to explore issues of race and identity and help develop tools to speak to our children and others about this often-difficult topic.
 
The “Parents for Racial Equity” four-part series is intended to educate and engage adult learners who wish to expand their personal knowledge and elevate their racial consciousness. Sessions will be held on the following dates and all sessions will be held from 5-7pm in the OUSD boardroom: Jan 10, Feb 2, Mar 7 and Apr 19.
 
We ask all attendees to register prior to attending the meeting by completing this form. ** Please note that this series will not address questions regarding the District’s specific curriculum or classroom practices.**
 
If you have questions about this event, please feel free to contact Superintendent Aida Glimme at aglimme@orinda.k12.ca.us

Please save Thursday, Jan 19 from 5:30-7pm for an important parent education event, creating community dialogue in supporting LGBTQ youth. Speaker J. Jessie Cohen (biolinked here) will share a developmental model, as well as case studies and tips for parents. We hope to create a community of support for our parents of LGBTQ youth, and this is a critical step towards that future. A registration link will be available soon. 

The month of December is a time set aside by many to celebrate a variety of traditionsand enjoy time with family, friends and community. We wish you peace and happiness throughout the holiday season.

Be well and we will see you in the new year!

As we conclude a week of gratitude, we would like to pay respect to the Bay Miwok and Muwekma Ohlone elders, both past and present, who have been living along Lamorinda creeks for thousands of years.
 
Are you looking for a book to read over the winter break? Check out Quiet Quail Books’ curated lists featuring indigenous authors, or Contra Costa County Library’s digital book club pick, A Snake Falls to Earth. 
 
We appreciate the work of our student journalists. Check out this article in which Blueprintstaff writers highlight student-led activities:  CARE Week Lunchtime Dialogues PromptImportant Discussions – ACALANES BLUEPRINT
 
Upcoming community event:
The Road to Democracy Runs through the Classroom
Wednesday, Dec 7, 5-7pm, Lafayette Library
Dr. Carol Anderson will discuss the importance of civic and history education for students today. For more information on this event, click here.
 
Questions, suggestions or feedback? Click here.