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Observances
February
- Black History Month: Since 1976, the month has been designated to remember the contributions of people of the African Diaspora.
March
- Women’s History Month: Started in 1987, Women’s History Month recognizes all women for their valuable contributions to history and society.
- National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: Increases awareness of issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month: Raises awareness of the autoimmune disease.
APRIL
- Celebrate Diversity Month: Started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, people get a deeper understanding of each other.
- Autism Awareness Month: Raises awareness about the developmental disorder that affects children’s social and communication skills.
May
- Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States in May 1843, and marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869.
- Older Americans Month: Established in 1963 to honor the legacies and contributions of older Americans and to support them as they enter their next stage of life.
- Jewish American Heritage Month: Recognizes the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American culture.
June
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month: Recognizes the impact that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the world. The last Sunday in June is Gay Pride Day.
September
- Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15): Corresponds with Mexican Independence Day celebrated on September 16, and recognizes the 1810 revolution that ended Spanish rule.
October
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Increases understanding of employment barriers that still need to be addressed.
- LGBT History Month: This U.S. observance started in 1994 recognizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history and the history of the gay rights movement.
November
- Native American Heritage Month: Celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans.
Download the full list of religious observances from the Anti-Defamation League
Resources
Resources for Faculty, Parents and Student on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Topics
Articles
Blogs
- Black Girl in Maine – Black Girl in Maine is Shay Stewart-Bouley, a Chicago-raised woman who relocated to Maine in 2002 and is as the Executive Director of Community Change Inc., a civil rights organization in Boston, MA. She writes about race, class, social issues and sometimes even motherhood.
Books
- Search the Waynflete Library Catalog
– a bibliography of library resources including academic books,
memoirs, and picture books. One can sort the list by clicking on the
button with the AZ/arrow pointing down. Contact school librarians Laurel Daly or Emily Graham for assistance.
- Blindsport: Hidden Biases of Good People, by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald, 2013.Writing with simplicity and verve, Banaji and Greenwald question the extent to which our perceptions of social groups—without our awareness or conscious control—shape our likes and dislikes and our judgments about people’s character, abilities, and potential.
- Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family, by Amy Ellis Nutt, 2015. Chronicles a journey of the Maineses, who came to question their long-held views on gender and identity, to accept and embrace Wyatt’s transition to Nicole, and to undergo an emotionally wrenching transformation of their own that would change all their lives forever.Granted wide-ranging access to personal diaries, home videos, clinical journals, legal documents, medical records, and the Maineses themselves, Amy Ellis Nutt spent almost four years reporting this immersive account.
Movies/Media
- The Mask You Live In (Netflix, Not Rated but recommended for age 15+) – explores how our culture’s narrow definition of masculinity is harming our boys, men and society at large and unveils what we can do about it. Focused on adolescents and teenagers, as well as external influences (media, cultural expectations, institutions) and familial influences (parents, friends, etc.).
- Miss Representation (2011, Netflix, Not Rated but recommended for age 14+) – explores how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in influential positions by circulating limited and often disparaging portrayals of women.The film interweaves stories from teenage girls with interviews to look at the media and its message. Includes a social action campaign to address change in policy, education and call for socially responsible business.
- 25 Mini-Films for Exploring Race, Bias, and Identity with Students, compiled by Michael Gonchar, New York Times, 3/15/2017. 25 short New York Times documentaries that range in time from 1 to 7 minutes and tackle issues of race, bias and identity. To help teachers make the most of these films, also provides several teaching ideas, related readings and student activities.
Podcasts
- Seeing White – a fourteen-part documentary series, released in 2017, Scene on Radio host and producer John Biewen took a deep dive into questions like Where did the notion of “whiteness” come from? What does it mean? What is whiteness for? Featuring an array of leadings scholars and regular guest Dr. Chenjari Kumanyika.
- Code Switch – a team of NPR journalists fascinated by the overlapping themes of race, ethnicity and culture, how they play out in our lives and communities, and how all of this is shifting.
Web Resources
Upper School Activities
Jewish Education and Culture Club (JECC)
Students who participate in JECC will share and explain Jewish culture, traditions, food, and experiences. The roots of anti-Semitism, as well as how to spot and combat it, will also be explored. This activity is open to individuals of all religious affiliations and backgrounds. Our aim is to grow understanding of the Jewish community at Waynflete and around the world.
PRIDE – GSTA – Gay Straight Transgender Alliance
Waynflete’s GSTA promotes meaningful and respectful communication. We work in the school to encourage everyone to take responsibility for their words and actions and we attempt to increase understanding by creating a safe and thoughtful environment. Click here to view “Gender Inquiry: Thinking Beyond the Binary,” a parent presentation.
RAAW- Racial Awareness at Waynflete
This activity is for students who are interested in extended discussion, who are willing to examine closely and deeply how race affects us at Waynflete and in the world, and for students who like to eat! We meet during lunch and activities to talk about race in our community and beyond. In addition, we have a fall retreat, sponsor a movie night and Martin Luther King Jr. activities.
Professional Development
Conferences & Workshops
Waynflete faculty and staff members are engaged in professional development around issues of diversity through workshops, conferences, and all-faculty discussions around these issues.
Here are some of the workshops and conferences regularly attended:
- NAIS People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC)
- Racial Equity Institute
- White Privilege Conference
- Georgetown Day School Equity Collaborative
- Diversity Directions Independent School Seminar
Parent Programs
Through our Parent Diversity Committee, we are able to promote and sponsor events throughout the year that allow parents/guardians to build a deeper understanding about diversity awareness and how diversity is necessary to build and sustain community. Check the school calendar for upcoming events.
NMAAHC Resources
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Why Us? Why Now?
Since the opening of the museum, the number one question people ask us is how to talk about race. Every year we’ve refined our signature program, “Let’s Talk! Teaching Race in the Classroom,” and now we want to share what we’ve learned.
Lower School Resources
Safe Space Radio – Talking to White Kids About Race and Racism
This podcast hosted by Portland psychiatrist Anne Halsward explores how to talk to white kids about race, why it’s hard for us to do, and how to change.
http://wf-link.org/ssr
EmbraceRace
This website has resources for parents and educators. Their goal is: “Let’s Raise a Generation of Children Who Are Thoughtful, Informed, and Brave About Race.” http://www.embracerace.org/
Children Are Not Colorblind
This powerful piece explains what children learn about race and racism and what caregivers can do to help children have less biased thinking. http://wf-link.org/not-color-blind
How Kids Learn About Race
This video and transcript from an EmbraceRace webinar is an opportunity to listen to Dr. Erin Winkler describe what children learn about race and how they learn it, and how they can learn more accurate information.
http://wf-link.org/embrace-race
Books
Please note that due to high demand, you may find more success when purchasing from local booksellers, whether that is physical books, digital books, or audiobooks.
White Anti-Racist Resources
Support Local Black-Owned Businesses
Maine Resources
Articles
Videos, Films, and TV Series
Video
Get Home Safely: 10 Rules of Survival (PBS)
Immaculate Perception: Jerry Kang at TEDx San Diego
I Just Wanna Live
How Microaggressions Are Like Mosquito Bites
If Microaggressions Happened to White People
Anti-bias Lessons Help Preschoolers Hold Up a Mirror to Diversity
Bias Isn’t Just a Police Problem, It’s a Preschool Problem
Film & TV Series
13th – Netflix
American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent
King In The Wilderness — HBO
See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent
The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax
When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
Queen and Slim (Lena Waithe) — Hulu
A Class Divided (Jane Elliot) — YouTube
Time: The Kalief Browder Story — Netflix
The Life and Death of Martha P. Johnson — Netflix
Instagram
Other Organizations to Support