APC

It’s Women’s History Month and our Thank Her feature is taking off. We had a couple of parents write in about women they admired…keep the suggestions coming! Send in the name and a short description of a woman change-maker you admire. Local tie-ins are always appreciated!
 
Thank Her: Two authors, Judy Blume and Amy Tan, have had a profound impact on the lives of our peers. Judy Blume’s rich collection of novels make adolescents – including many female youth of the 80s – feel seen. Her ability to portray teenage issues with frankness and humor made her relatable reads extraordinarily popular. The New York Times writes that many of Blume’s books are now being turned into films. 
 
Oakland native, Amy Tan, had a breakout hit with The Joy Luck Club in 1989. Her novels, short stories, and essays are filled with intimate details about growing up as a first generation American and about what it is like to be both separate and a part of Chinese culture. Fun facts- Tan started out as a successful business writer and her novel, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, is also an opera!
 
Upcoming Event: Lift Your Voice with Angela Harrelson, TOMORROW, Mar 13 at 7pm, Town Hall Theater
Angela is the aunt of George Floyd and has written Lift Your Voice about how her nephew’s murder changed the world. Tickets to this special event are available at townhalltheater.com.
 
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In honor of Women’s History Month, we are adding a Thank Her feature to our weekly communications throughout March. Contribute to the celebration by sending in a name and short description about an influential woman you admire. Bonus points for someone local or an alum of Acalanes.
 
Thank Her: Do you use Facetime or Zoom? Thank prolific inventor Marian Croak, owner of 200+ U.S. patents. Croak was one of the first two Black women to be inducted to the Inventors Hall of Fame. She is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP), technology that converts your voice into a digital signal. Among her inventions is the text-to-donate function which has helped to raise millions of dollars for disaster-relief efforts.
 
Happy Holi! And, chag Purim sameach! IYKYK
 
Don’t miss this important event happening Thursday night!
Repairing the World: Stories From The Tree of Life
Thursday, Mar 9, 7-9pm, Del Valle Theater in Walnut Creek
This is a documentary film on Pittsburgh’s powerful community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, showing what it means to be “stronger than hate.” Please join community members for this free film event sponsored by Campo DEIB. Screening will be followed by a special Q & A with the director.  Register forthe event here.
 
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In response to our call out for input, we received this Black Excellence highlight from a fellow parent and proud Cal alum:
“The LA Times puts a spotlight on O’Neil Ray Collins, a UC Berkeley professor who resided in Orinda and his kids went to Miramonte, in their article about 5 Black innovators who made significant contributions to the fields of horticulture and botany. Read the article here.”
 
Upcoming Events
Being Heumann: Acclaimed Memoir of a Disability Rights Advocate
Tuesday, Feb 28 from 6-7:30pm, Orinda Books
Join Facing History to discuss Judith Heumann’s life, her landmark civil rights activism, and how we can all be upstanders and advocates in our communities today. An RSVP is encouraged if you’d like to attend.
 
Get to Know Acalanes DEI
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 wonderful people provided. Email us so we can send you the exact date and location. We are targeting early March for this gathering.
 
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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.
 
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list or share feedback.