CLX Social Justice League
Fall 2019 Newsletter
What is Claxton's Social Justice League all about?
We are in the process of developing our action plans for staff, students and families for 2019-20 and will make those available when they are complete! In the meantime, we have an updated mission statement, events and resources we wanted to share with you.
Thank you for your support!
September 15-October 15 is Latinx Heritage Month!
What is Latinx?
The Spanish language is not a gender neutral language and the term came from creating a gender inclusive identity. It can be pronounced as La-teen-ex and in Spanish, some translators are pronouncing it La-teen-eh. More information on the term 'Latinx' and the history of identifying terms such as 'Hispanic' and 'Latino' can be found here: https://www.oprahmag.com/life/a28056593/latinx-meaning/ and here: https://remezcla.com/features/culture/latino-vs-hispanic-vs-latinx-how-these-words-originated/
Claxton and the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards
Supporting our local community!
As stated on their website, "Coalition Colorful Pages Coalition purchases books that feature and are written by people of color. We seek out books that reflect the beautiful children in our community, then work to create collections with a low average cost. We supply these books to classroom and community spaces, and support leaders in using them by providing lessons and facilitating development opportunities. Our work is made possible by donations from individuals, businesses in our community, and grants. We believe ALL children must receive positive, representative messages about their worth and importance in every public space." To learn more about there work, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ColorfulPagesCoalition/
More information about the event is listed below!
Goombay Festival
Goombay Celebration, which is a partnership between the YMI Cultural Center and the Just Folks Organization, will be held in place of the YMI’s annual Goombay Festival which will
return for it’s 40th Anniversary in 2020. The theme of “Bringing it Back to the Block” refers to the fact that Goombay Celebration will be held in the festival’s original location.
As one of the oldest (if not the oldest) African American cultural centers in the country, the YMI Cultural Center holds the history of Asheville’s Black community, while also
supporting and illuminating Black contributions being made today. “The Goombay Celebration will be community-centered,” says YMI Executive Director Dewana Little, “and
will highlight the immense amount of Black talent we have here in the city.”
Goombay Celebration partners are LEAF Community Arts, Garnet Prose + Projects, Asheville FM, and Bhramari Brewing Company. Bhramari recently released “Umquombothi,” a traditional African beer, in anticipation of Goombay Celebration. The beer was created with Rayburn Farms, a Black-owned farm, and Riverbend Malt.
For more information, visit ymiculturalcenter.org.
Friday, Sep 20, 2019, 05:00 PM
South Market Street, Asheville, NC, USA
Fiesta Hendersonville
Sunday, Sep 22, 2019, 12:00 PM
Hendersonville Visitor Center, South Main Street, Hendersonville, NC, USA
ACS Superintendent Search Community Forum
We are looking forward to meeting with you and receiving your input as we look to hire the best, long-term fit for our students, staff members, families and community.
Questions that will be discussed during the Superintendent Search Community Forums include:
-Why is it important for you to be here?
-If you had 30 minutes to spend one-on-one with a superintendent candidate, what three questions would you like to ask them?
-Ranking each item from 1 - 10, which characteristics are most important to you?
-Classroom and administrative experience
-Trusted by the community and staff
-Long-term commitment to the district and our community
-Visible throughout the district
-Community knowledge that informs equity
decision/programs
-Instructional leadership
-Relationship builder with key stakeholders
-Keen communication skills as both a listener and
spokesperson
-Experience in a district/community with similar
demographics
-User of both successes and failures to grow as a leader
Tuesday, Sep 24, 2019, 05:00 PM
Asheville Middle School, South French Broad Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
11th Annual Blue Ridge Pride Festival
Join us as we celebrate a community growing together. Two stages feature area entertainers. A third stage highlights activists and artists of the spoken word. Come early for our 2nd Annual Procession through Asheville.
Saturday, Sep 28, 2019, 11:00 AM
Pack Square Park, Court Plaza, Asheville, NC, USA
9th Annual Justice Forum Featuring Jose Antonio Vargas
Thursday, October 3, 2019
5:30pm Ticketed Reception,
7:00pm FREE Forum
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium,
This year's Forum is FREE but registration is required at www.pisgahlegal.org/justiceforum.
Thursday, Oct 3, 2019, 07:00 PM
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Haywood Street, Asheville, NC, USA
Power of the Picture Book: Bridging Literacy, Equity, and Centering Our Children
Did you know that babies notice race as early as 3 months? Join Colorful Pages Coalition founders Bianca Gragg and Jeannie Curtis as we explore interactive read aloud strategies and early race awareness through a racial equity lens. This training is ideal for any educator, parent, or person with young children (birth through five) in their lives!
Jeannie Curtis is a co-founder of Colorful Pages Coalition. In an ongoing effort to become anti-racist, she began seeking racial equity education for herself and working to ensure that her work as a facilitator of professional development for teachers always has a focus of racial equity in the classroom. One of Jeannie’s personal goals is to engage the white community in self-reflection about racial identify and to encourage community involvement and giving in racial equity work. Jeannie believes deeply that all children have unique strengths and gifts, and she works with teachers to allow students to take the lead in reaching their incredible potential.
Bianca Gragg is a revolutionary mother and local Latina therapist who is deeply invested in supporting the healing of others in community as well as her own healing—-recognizing their interconnection. Bianca believes that positively centering and amplifying our youth sets the foundation to heal ourselves and our communities. She is invested in the work of racial equity and anti racism at the personal, interpersonal, and institutional level.
Free child care is available, but registration is required, as we will cap child care capacity at 25 for safety reasons.
Register here: https://buncombepfc.org/event/power-of-the-picture-book-bridging-literacy-equity-and-centering-our-children/
Thursday, Oct 10, 2019, 06:15 PM
Claxton Elementary School, Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
UNC-Asheville Office of Multicultural Affairs: Black History 101 Mobile Museum and founder Khalid el-Hakim
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2019, 12:00 PM
Blue Ridge Room, Highsmith Student Union, UNC-Asheville
The People Not Property Project and Black Resistance in Western North Carolina
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2019, 04:00 PM
D. Hiden Ramsey Library at UNC Asheville, University Heights, Asheville, NC, USA
Have some recommendations for us? Retweet, share or post with #clxsocialjustice
Podcasts:
1619: "Four hundred years ago, in August of 1619, a ship carrying enslaved Africans arrived in the American state of Virginia, then a British colony. That fateful trip altered the country, it’s identity, and its history in unimaginable ways. NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES explores the shadow cast by that crucial moment in her new audio series ‘1619.’"
Cult of Pedagogy, 10 Ways Educators Can Take Action in Pursuit of Equity: This episode features professor and activist, Pedro Noguera about 10 specific things we can do to help pursue equity. Great blog post about it here as well.
Code Switch: This NPR podcast features conversations around race and identity in America.
Podcast: Seeing White: A 14-part documentary series exploring whiteness in America—where it came from, what it means, and how it works.
Podcast: The Waters and Harvey Show: This Asheville podcast explores the experiences of historically marginalized people and their communities, and considers the influence those experiences have within our increasingly diverse society.
Articles:
Webinars/Resources:
1619 Project curriculum from the Pulitzer Center:
- Reading Guide: Quotes, Key Terms, and Questions
- Index of Terms and Historical Events
- Lesson Plan: Exploring "The Idea of America" by Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Activities to Extend Student Engagement
A framework for teaching slavery by Teaching Tolerance
From NEA Education Justice and partners
What has your team done?
Our team has been working on racial equity since 2014 when we received funding from Asheville City Schools Foundation and a recap of that work can be found here.
Contact us!
Link to our CLX Social Justice Website
#clxsocialjustice
Email: kimberly.eggett@ashevillecityschools.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/acsgmail.net/clxsocialjustice/home
Location: 241 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
Phone: 828-350-6500
Facebook: facebook.com/claxtonelem
Twitter: @claxtonelem