June 2024 Newsletter
Visit the Cultural Celebration Page for upcoming events, professional development panels, academic resources, and more!
Events & Happenings
PRIDE Month
Each June Pride Month holds intentional space to affirm and uplift the diverse LGBTQIA+ community throughout the United States. Initially celebrated in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots, and serve as a reminder that PRIDE began as a protest in response to police brutality and other injustices against the LGBTQIA+ community. While strides have been made toward mitigating oppression of the LGBTQIA+ community, there is still much to protest. Anti-LGBTQ legislation and acts of hate are increasing in this country which impacts the safety and rights for individuals. Pride Month is a time not only to celebrate the many contributions that the LGBTQIA+ community have given to society, but to also speak out as allies against homophobic/transphobic language and actions that impact this historically marginalized population. Whether you support LGBTQIA+ businesses, engage in Pride events and parades, donate to organizations that support this community, or speak up and engage in political action, Pride Month is a time to come together and show that love is always stronger than hate.
In addition to recognizing PRIDE, June is also World Refugee and Immigration Awareness Month, Caribbean American Heritage Month, and National PTSD Awareness Month.
Join us on Wednesday, June 5th at 12pm for a groundbreaking event this Pride month as the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosts a Virtual Panel dedicated to uplifting, educating, and highlighting the LGBTQIA+ experience. Sign Up Here
Events and Happenings this Month
Equity in Practice: PRIDE Panel Discussion
Join us for a groundbreaking event this Pride month as the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will host a Virtual Panel dedicated to uplifting, educating, and highlighting the LGBTQIA+ experience.
The goal of this event is to provide the School District of Philadelphia`s teachers, staff, and community members with invaluable insights on how to best support and empower LGBTQIA+ students and our colleagues in and out of the classroom.
Community Resources & Opportunities
LGBTQIA+ Employee Community Space.
The LGBTQIA+ Employee Community Space is an inclusive and supportive space for LGBTQIA+ employees to network and be in community with one another. This community space is held via Zoom and in-person at the School District of Philadelphia Central Office. Dates include:
June 6th: 12-1PM @RM 1080
One Day At A Time (ODAAT): 41st Annual Candlelight Vigil
One Day at a Time (ODAAT) hosts its 41st Annual Candlelight Vigil Anniversary Celebration for Co-Founder Margaret ‘Mom’ Wells and includes a community concert with special guests and performers featuring Philly’s favorite’s Wallo and Gillie, vendors, free food, and a resource fair at the Met Philly. The theme of the 41st Annual Anniversary is, ‘One Love, One Philly’ which ODAAT invites the community to address the urgent issues of gun violence and recovery to celebrate the resilience and diversity that defines us as a people.
One Day at a Time is a non-profit organization that works consistently to provide services to those suffering from addiction. ODAAT President Mel Wells stated, ‘For decades we’ve had a candlelight vigil to remember those who passed away due to HIV/AIDS and gun violence. In honor of this tradition, we are continuing the legacy of my mother ‘Mom’ Wells who was the guiding light in helping people fight their addictions and pursue the road to recovery.
In Case You Missed It!
Equity in Practice: SEAMAAC
In celebration of AAPI Heritage month, The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted SEMAAC for our May Equity in Practice community session. In this session, SEAMAAC outlined their history, direct services, and how-to best support students and families within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
SEAMAAC’s is a community-based organization that supports and serves immigrants and refugees and other politically, socially and economically marginalized communities as they seek to advance the condition of their lives in the United States.
Equity in Practice: The Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History
In Celebration of Jewish- American Heritage Month, on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024, from 12pm – 1pm The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted The Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History for a close look at the vibrant and diverse stories of the Jewish community in America. In this session, Weitzman will outline their educational programs, events, and cultural experiences that uplift Jewish heritage here in America and in the classroom.
The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. Its purpose is to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire.
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