Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Bellingham Public Schools June 2021
We made it to the last week of school and we can all agree it has been one unpredictable year. We crossed our fingers for the return of our students to the classrooms, and what a joy it's been these past few months to see their faces.
Throughout the 2020-21 school year, the EDI team has highlighted and shared cultural events, national observances and virtual educational resources and has lifted up individuals leading EDI work in our communities. It has been a joy to serve you and learn alongside you.
Next year, we're moving into the social stratosphere - follow us soon on Facebook and Instagram, where you'll find the same great information in shareable chunks. We will also maintain our EDI webpage, blog and calendar. Please check those often for resources and events to further our collective learning.
Have a great summer! Much love ~
Your Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Team
Dr. Janis Velasquez Farmer, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
At the end of May, five Asian and Pacific Islander women held a public conversation to honor the six Asian women killed in Atlanta. As we discussed heritage, history, and healing, the beauty of the conversation came through in the stories, laughter and tears shared. The power came through in the text messages I received from my mom, which ended with, “…I can see you’re taking care of my struggles.” I hold these words close to my heart. Over the past almost 20 years, I have cared for the struggles of students and families using equity, diversity and inclusion as the toolkit. Bringing diverse approaches to education increases opportunities for each and every student to develop their own unique leadership, strengthen their critical lenses and create change. In this work, I strive to take care of the struggles faced by students and families. What does this mean moving forward? It means more opportunities to sit with families and talk story…it means honoring the land and the First Peoples as we look forward…it means leaning on one another rather than struggling in solitude…and it means full, deep, meaningful connection with our whole selves. I am proud of the work being done in our community and I continue to learn alongside each of you. Some messages challenged me and helped me see a different perspective, sometimes resulting in a change of language or content; some messages supported the work of EDI and provided additional resources and opportunities; students also offered great insights and demonstrated compassionate leadership. I am proud to be part of the Bellingham Public Schools team and I look forward to serving you again in the fall.
*Shout out to my mama, my model of action-oriented critical hope*
Bethany Barrett, Assistant Principal - Sehome High School
When June rolls around, the rainbow and trans flags come out all over town: in the windows of local businesses, people’s yards, apartment windows, in special displays at Target and Fred Meyer. Seeing all these flags makes me smile, hard. It was only 51 years ago that the Stonewall Riots in New York City brought national attention to the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and began the revolutionary act of taking to the streets for visibility and celebration that we now know as Pride parades. Now, these events happen all over the world in the month of June, bringing attention to the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality. I love a parade, and Pride parades are my favorite. Seeing the multitude of ways that people proudly show up in the world is a gift to all of us. But, you know what is even better? Participating in a community that treats all LGBTQ+ people like Pride month is every month. I love June for the focus on my beloved community, but I love it even more when those flags never get taken down. The truth is, waving that flag in June is a beautiful thing. But even more beautiful is when I hear colleagues at my high school use the correct names and pronouns of every student all year long, and when I see representation of the LGBTQ+ community across the curriculum: books read in morning circles, middle school science lessons, high school social studies classes. The essence of Pride month happens every day in classrooms, friendships, and families where everyone gets to show up in the wonderfully diverse gender identities and sexual orientations they own. We have come a long way, and we still have a long way to go. When you put that flag up this month, remember that Pride is about celebration and belonging…and it’s also about resistance and struggle. As Marsha P Johnson, Black Trans activist said, “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” I’ll be taking these words to heart as I proudly wave my pride flags, this month and every month.
June 2021 is the 51st annual Pride Month!
The marches and parades that encompass Pride Month may just be seen as colorful celebrations to some, but they stand for so much more. They stand as a remembrance for those who couldn't show who they wanted to be and for those who were killed or exiled for what they believed. They stand for those who were persecuted for who they loved, and, finally, they stand as a sign of resistance against those who want to strip LGBTQIA+ individuals of their hard-earned rights.
For more information, review a this historical timeline from GLSEN and these resources:
- The UK History of LGBTQ+: A Timeline of Important Events
- The American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline
Whatcom Youth Pride
Free Pride 2021 Events
Virtual Pride Queer History 101
Tuesday, June 22, 2:30 PM-3:30 PM
This workshop will provide an overview of LGBTQ2S+ history in the United States over the past century. We will discuss notable figures and events throughout queer history including the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the fight for marriage equality, legislation surrounding accessible public bathrooms, and more.
Learn more here
Capitol Hill Pride March & Rally
Cal Anderson Park - Bobby Morris Playfield, Seattle WA
Capitol Hill Pride will focus on remembering the anniversary of Stonewall - when the LGBTQ community stood up to police harassment and continue the vision of a community free from police excessive force in the second summer of love.
Learn more here
Seattle Virtual Pride
Seattle Virtual Pride will be jam-packed with performances, game shows, educational and activism-focused speakers and panels, virtual booths to connect with local non-profits and vendors, and community gathering/discussion groups!
Learn more here
Pride Month Educational Resources
Responding to common children’s questions about LBGTQ Topics
PDF list of definitions to understand gender and sexual orientation
High School lesson plan: Stonewall Uprising
Middle School/High School lesson plan: Understanding Homophobia/Heterosexism and How to Be an Ally
Queer America: A Podcast for Teaching about LGBTQ History
Bibi: An LGBTQIA+ Short Film for the classroom lesson plan: Bibi is a story told through the perspective of Ben, a gay, Latinx man, about his complicated relationships.
June 19: Juneteenth
Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. One more time for those in the back: Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and his Union soldiers arrived in Gavelston, Texas, and delivered General Order Number 3:
"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the
Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer."
This history may not align with the history many of were taught about the end of slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863. Juneteenth.com provides possible explanations of the discrepancy:
- A messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom
- The news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations
- Federal troops actually waited for the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation
How do we honor and celebrate Juneteenth?
There are many ways to celebrate Juneteenth, including street fairs and concerts. Because of the holiday's Southern roots, barbecue is a must, and red foods like strawberry soda and red velvet cake are traditionally served as the color is "a symbol of ingenuity and resilience in bondage," according to The New York Times.
Additional honors and recognitions occur in learning and finding connections across cultures. Oprah Daily suggests "learning about major firsts from African Americans, read a book by a Black author, catch a film that honors Black life, or support Black-owned companies. But most importantly, remember that all of those things shouldn't just happen on Juneteenth, but every day. Because it's never a bad time to celebrate the independence of everyone in our country."
Juneteenth 2021 Events
Bellingham Juneteenth 2021
This invitation is copied from the Bellingham Unity Committee on Facebook
It is our distinct honor to invite you to participate in the Annual Bellingham Unity Committee Juneteenth Celebration.
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Juneteenth celebrations are a positive platform for encouraging the acceptance of diversity and offer an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the sacrifices and challenges enslaved Americans endured to achieve freedom.
This will be the third year that Bellingham Unity Committee will host A Juneteenth Celebration that honors and celebrates freedom of all people. This celebration will take place on Saturday June 19, 2021 from 3pm- 7pm at Maritime Heritage Park 500 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225.
We invite you bring your food and blanket to spread on the grass around the Maritime Amphitheatre for this community picnic! Enjoy live Funk, Soul, R&B ,Reggae music, dance performances, community step, community art wall, community organizations tabling, and more.
This event is free and open to the public, ASL interpreted event, and drop-ins are welcome. Maritime Heritage Park is wheelchair accessible, and members of the Juneteenth 2019 planning committee will be available for any questions or accommodation requests from the community.
We hope to see you there. Feel free to contact Bellingham Unity Committee at Bellinghamunitycommittee18@gmail.com for more details.
Saturday, Jun 19, 2021, 03:00 PM
Maritime Heritage Park, West Holly Street, Bellingham, WA, USA
Living Room Conversations LIVE
This invitation is copied from the registration page at Living Room Conversations.
Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States on June 19th, 1865. This date marks when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to share the news of freedom from enslavement. Note that this was two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. So, on this day, we honor those that were freed from enslavement, reflect on how far we've come and how far we have to go.
In this Living Room Conversation LIVE, six Black community leaders gather to share what Juneteenth means to them, offer ways others can honor this day, and consider their vision for continued liberation.
Join us in this Living Room Conversations LIVE watch party to witness a heartfelt conversation exploring themes of race, freedom, Juneteenth celebrations, and liberation.
Thursday, Jun 17, 2021, 05:00 PM
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Juneteenth Stories of Freedom
Sat, June 19, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT
The Peale and the Griots’ Circle of Maryland present a Juneteenth virtual storytelling event featuring African American storytellers. The celebration will unite all people in the spirit of activism inspired by the recent human rights protests.
Learn more here
Juneteenth: A Story of Freedom
Please join The North Caroline Museum of History for an insightful conversation to examine the history behind this holiday and reveal why its celebration is more important now than ever. They will also explore North Carolina’s special connections to the historic event and share details about Raleigh’s inaugural Juneteenth Celebration.
Learn more here
Understanding Juneteenth: An Online Presentation
Sat, June 19, 2021 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
This is an online presentation Understanding Juneteenth. In this online experience, there will be a discussion of the history of Emancipation Day as a holiday and how it has been celebrated throughout the years here in America.
Learn more here
Juneteenth Educational Resources
Middle School/ High School: Juneteenth Lesson Plan
Youtube Video: What is Juneteenth and Why Do We Celebrate It?
EDI in the Summer
Keep learning with us!
We will post workshops, book clubs, and more to the Monthly EDI Calendar over the summer. Check often to be sure you're in the know!