September 2024 Equity Newsletter
Visit the Cultural Celebration Page for upcoming events, professional development panels, academic resources, and more!
Events & Happenings
Latine/ Hispanic Heritage Month
The School District of Philadelphia celebrates the beginning of Latine/ Hispanic Heritage Month. Beginning on 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, Latine/ Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, Latine/ Hispanic Heritage Month 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.
For more information about how you can celebrate and acknowledge Latine/ Hispanic Heritage Month please visit the SDP Cultural Calendar.
Meet The DEI Team
Meet Michelle, Senior Project Manager
Michelle serves as the Senior Project Manager for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Michelle is excited for the upcoming school year and is eager to continue her work in supporting Student Equity associations (SEA). She is passionate about building student capacity, and fostering an inclusive environment where every student can thrive academically and become leaders in and out of the classroom.
Meet Kyle, Director of Culture & Community Engagement
Kyle works as the Director of Culture and Engagement and has the pleasure of working with SDP staff and external organizations around monthly programming and initiatives .
This year, Kyle is excited to connect with stakeholders around the Equity in Practice series, a monthly session that highlights cultural celebrations and provides tips on how School District staff can continue to advance Equity in schools and in the City of Philadelphia.
Events and Happenings
Equity in Practice: Hispanic Heritage Panel Discussion
Join us on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024, from 12pm – 1pm for our Hispanic Heritage Month Panel Discussion, where we will explore how we can collectively uplift and support the Hispanic community. Panelist will include School District of Philadelphia staff and Community Advocates
Community Resources & Opportunities
Mexican Independence Day Festival
The Annual Mexican Independence Day Festival is almost here! Join MCC at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest for an unforgettable day packed with live music, mouthwatering food, and the vibrant spirit of Mexican culture.
The Mexican Cultural Center promotes understanding and awareness of the cultural and artistic diversity of Mexico and its influence in the Delaware Valley.
In Case You Missed It!
Equity in Practice: Taller Puertorriqueno
On September 20th 2023, the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion collaborated with Taller Puertorriqueno in a Equity in Practice session in celebration of Hispanic Heritage month. Taller Puertorriqueno (TR) highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting Puerto Rican arts and Culture within the School District of Philadelphia. TR shared more about their 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.
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