September 2023 Newsletter
Visit the Cultural Celebration Page for upcoming events, professional development panels, academic resources, and more!
Welcome Back to School!
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is pleased to welcome our staff and students back for the 2023-2024 school year. We are excited about our first year of effectuating the Strategic Plan, Accelerating Philly through Education Equity.
Remember that our Office is here for your equity needs. View the DEI Workstreams Chart to see the work we do. Also reach out to equity@philasd.org for any questions.
Suicide Prevention Month
In addition to kicking off the school year, September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness and discuss this highly stigmatized topic. In addition to shifting public perception, we use this month to spread hope and vital information to people affected by suicide.
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- If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately.
- If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
- You can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
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September Events & Happenings
September 15th-October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month!
The School District of Philadelphia celebrates the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. Beginning, today, September 15 thru October 15 this month serves a national celebration to honor the history, culture and influence of past generations who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Important Days to Acknowledge within the Month:
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- September 15: Independence Day-Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
- September 16: Independence Day- Mexico
- September 18: Independence Day- Chile
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September 15th-October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month!
The School District of Philadelphia celebrates the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. Beginning, today, September 15 thru October 15 this month serves a national celebration to honor the history, culture and influence of past generations who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Other Recognitions in September: Labor Day – 9/4, Rosh Hashanah – 9/15 – 9/17, Yom Kippur – 9/24 and 9/25
Resources for the Month:
September 21st is International Day of Peace
The United Nations International Day of Peace, September 21, is an opportunity for the world to unite and engage in meaningful activities related to peace. Cities across the world engage in diverse peace programs focused on education, the environment, social justice, the arts and more.
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace. In 2001, the United Nations unanimously voted to also designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
This year’s global theme is “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals.” It is a call to action that recognizes our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace.
Peace Day Philly is the local initiative for the International Day of Peace. Peace Day Philly’s mission is to empower all people to collaboratively build a more peaceful and just world. We organize, collaborate on and encourage activities related to personal, local and global peace on and around September 21.
Go to Peace Day Philly’s website, www.peacedayphilly.org, and the section “What Can You Do?” to view many ideas for engaging in Peace Day.
Peace Day Resources:
Events and Happenings this Month
Mexican Independence Day Festival- Free!
Sunday, September 10th, | 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Penns Landing
Enjoy live performances by Mariachi, folkloric dances, and Mexican bands such as Alter-Real, Nuevo Milenio & Lizy Tlaseca. As the highlight of the event, enjoy a special presentation by the talented German Montero
Dance to traditional Mexican music, The “El Grito” civic ceremony by the Consul of Mexico in Philadelphia, Taste authentic Mexican cuisine from local restaurants, Mexican arts and crafts vendors, Kid’s corner
Experience our beer garden, Enjoy the fireworks at the end of the celebration, and more!
Equity in Practice: Spotlight on Taller Puertorriqueño
Wednesday, September 20th, | 12 p.m. -1 p.m. via zoom
In our next Equity in Practice session on Wednesday, September 20th 2023, Taller Puertorriqueno (TR) will shed light on the importance of preserving and promoting Puerto Rican arts and Culture within the school District of Philadelphia. Expect to learn more about TR`s services, connection to Equity, and tips on how to equitably support our Latinx community.
Known as El Corazón Cultural del Barrio, Taller Puertorriqueño is a community-based cultural organization that uses art to promote development within its community and the Latinx Diaspora and build bridges to the Greater Philadelphia region.
Register below to attend this virtual session.
Peace Day Philly 2023: Actions for Peace
Thursday, September 21st, | 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. North Apron, City Hall
Please join us as we gather on the UN International Day of Peace! Activities will include music, speakers, global messages, a creative activity and more.
Fall PHENND Meeting: The Intersection of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Civic Engagement
Wednesday, September 27th 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Rutgers-Camden Student Center
The Fall PHENND Meeting is a chance for the entire PHENND Network to get together to share ideas, events, challenges, etc. It is also a time to hear from PHENND staff about their activities and opportunities for partnership in the coming academic year.
Additionally, the event will focus on the intersections of DEI and Civic Engagement. Dr. Nyeema Watson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategy, Diversity and Community Engagement at Rutgers-Camden, will discuss the journey her office took in aligning DEI with community engagement, previously two separate offices.
A light breakfast will be served.
Centering Black Childhoods: Engaging Voices and Collaborative Conversations
Wednesday, October 4th 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Rutgers–Camden Campus Center
On behalf of the Department of Childhood Studies at Rutgers University–Camden, we are delighted to extend an official invitation to our upcoming event, “Centering Black Childhoods: Engaging Voices and Collaborative Conversations”. This two-part event is organized by our department with support from the Mellon Foundation as part of a broader initiative that seeks to challenge the whiteness of childhood studies and provide institutional support for racial justice work in the field. In launching this initiative, we seek to foster connections among critically engaged scholars, practitioners, activists, and young people in the Camden and Philadelphia region who are centering Black childhoods in their work.
This event is free and open to the public. Please share widely!
September Spotlights
DEI Office Spotlight: Office of Diverse Learners
Shoutout the Office of Diverse Learners! We partnered with Directors and Case Managers in this Office in August with a session on the Intersection of Disability and Race.
The Office of Diverse Learners (ODL) supports families, students, and their teachers by providing the tools and resources to ensure that all eligible diverse learners receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE); this is accomplished through the provision of special education and/or related services to meet the unique needs of all eligible diverse learners. High-quality instruction is essential to our work and we are committed to preparing our students for success.
DEI Office Spotlight: Office of Professional Learning
Shout Out to The Office of Professional Learning for co-facilitation and development of Policy 252 sessions for Leadership Convening. With your help, we’re working our way to more inclusive schools for all students, regardless of gender identity!
The Office of Leadership Development cultivates, grows, and sustains equity-centered leaders. Principals are recognized as the most influential leaders in the city of Philadelphia because their words and actions disrupt predictable racial inequities for our students, staff, and communities. All school leaders center systemic racism and its intersections to amplify historically oppressed voices, and are responsive to identified needs in service to access and liberation.
DEI Office Updates
The Equity Teams Guidebook
The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) is committed to delivering upon the civil right of every child to a quality public education at a great school close to where they live. SDP’s vision is to prepare students to imagine and realize any future they desire. SDP’s mission is that all sectors of public education in Philadelphia will work with urgency to provide every student with the opportunity to achieve positive life outcomes in partnership with diverse families, educators, and community members who are valued and respected. Central to this mission and vision is an intentional commitment to an equitable education that centers the needs of our most marginalized students. To this end, our system needs dedicated policy, intentional practices, and committed people in order to create a learning environment where students and staff can thrive. This guidebook is designed to support schools and program offices in implementing and maintaining equity teams to ensure the actualization of the SDP vision and mission.
Welcoming our New Equity Training Specialists!
Estefana Ramos (she/they)
I’m excited to work with Region 2 as the point person for Learning Networks 3 & 7!
To me, equity means collaboratively building healing spaces where folks have room to exchange stories and spring into action for each other. In the context of schools, equity means sharing, listening, and developing the empathy necessary for all students to achieve their goals.
Elizabeth Williams Wesley (she/her)
Serving Networks: Innovation and Learning Network 4
“I have never encountered any children in any group who are not geniuses. There is no mystery on how to teach them. The first thing you do is treat them like human beings and the second thing you do is love them.” – Dr. Asa G. Hilliard, III
Michelle Vigil Thornton (she/her/hers)
Networks: 1 & Opportunity
Quote: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Dr. Maya Angelou
In Case You Missed It!
Historically Racialized Trauma in the US
Our team hosted a session on “Historically Racialized Trauma in the US” start the school year off with some important historical equity knowledge!
Latinx Heritage & LGBTQIA+ Identity- Intersectionality Panel
Last year The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion decided to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and LGBTQ History Month by exploring the intersection between these identities. We are joined by incredible people within the community who share their experiences and the work their organizations are doing to uplift these marginalized communities. The group shares struggles they have experienced, resources and advice for those exploring their intersecting identities, and express the joy of finding their community.
The panel is moderated by Equity Training Specialist, Dylan Van Duyne. We are joined by: Kim Cardenas, a PhD Candidate at Penn Jorian Rivera Veintidos- Prevention and Education Manager at Galaei. Luz Matus- Representative of the Mexican Cultural Center.
Find this and other Hispanic Heritage Month Videos on our Youtube Page
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