SHINE! PPS Office of DEI Newsletter
Showing How Inclusivity Nurtures Equity (Vol II 10.8.21))
From the Director's Desk
October is...
National Hispanic Month (September 15-October 15)
Disability Awareness Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Filipino American History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
This issue continues to celebrate our LatinX colleagues featuring Health Services Supervisor Samantha Womack and the librarians at I.C. Norcom High School. As National Hispanic/Latinx Month draws to an end, try to set a goal of learning one new thing about the rich Latin culture. Learning about our various cultures is a step towards being culturally competent.
October recognizes various marginalized groups. The Office of DEI recognizes Disability Awareness Month, Global Diversity Awareness Month, Filipino American History Month, and LGBTQ+ History Month.
In the last principals' packet, building principals/department leaders were given links to resources provided by the Office of Special Education for Disability Awareness Month.
We celebrate Global Diversity this month by recognizing all of the diverse members of the "PPS Family." After World War II, the UN adopted "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." It was the first acknowledgment that was made on a global level to recognize, accept, and celebrate what makes us human and the inalienable rights we all have regardless of nationality, race, color, sex, identity, language, or otherwise. Learning to respect each other's differences is another step towards...you guessed it...cultural competency.
Filipino American History Month commemorates the arrival of the first Filipinos that landed in California in 1587. Filipinos were the first Asians in California. The month focuses on the history of Filipino Americans to teach about their experiences, lives, and impact on America. US Congress passed a bill in 2009 officially recognizing October as Filipino American History Month.
Finally, October is LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, 2/Two-Spirit, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and Ally) History Month. In this issue, resources are provided to share the history of the fight for civil rights and acceptance in the LGBTQ+ community. In our next issue of the SHINE! newsletter, we will have stories to share of the inclusive work and "allyships" we are doing/making in PPS.
Recognize, Accept, and Celebrate Diversity!
Dr. "PC"
Follow us on Twitter @PPSOfficeofDEI
Resources:
https://nationaltoday.com/global-diversity-awareness-month/
https://ok2bme.ca/resources/kids-teens/what-does-lgbtq-mean/
Click the yellow box above if you are interested in representing your school/department
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is looking for representatives from across the division to become members of our Inaugural Equity Taskforce. We need one representative from each building/department to ensure that all voices are heard and we have collective input as we develop our equity strategic plan for the division. The goal of the Equity Taskforce is to promote sustainable and equitable changes within PPS to ensure that our internal stakeholders (students, faculty, and staff) feel a sense of belonging and are provided with the tools that they need to reach their academic and professional potential.
As a member of the Equity Taskforce, you will represent your building/department at our monthly virtual meetings. Members are expected to attend 90% of task force meetings. (Meeting dates will be decided as a committee.)You may also be asked or volunteer to serve on a subcommittee with a specific focus. During our meetings, we will have productive, courageous conversations about diverse, equitable, and inclusive issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism and develop practical ways to solve the issues collaboratively and consistently across our division. The Equity Taskforce is open to EVERYONE. We want a diverse team. If you are interested, please apply. If more than one person applies from your building/department, we will select a member and an alternate. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON 10/29.
What is LGBTQ+ History Month and Why Do We Recognize It?
The turning point that many historians credit for starting the fight for equal rights of the LGBTQ+ community was the Stonewall Riot of 1968 in Greenwich Village, NYC. Two transgender women of color Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson are credited for "throwing the first bricks" of liberation. A year later the first gay pride marches began in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The tradition continues to this day every June to honor the Stonewall riots.
The theme for 2021 is "Here and Now-For Better and For Worse".
References
PPS SPOTLIGHT: Meet Nurse Womack
Nurse Samantha Womack is our Health Services Supervisor. She began her role in August. Nurse Womack earned her BS degree from VCU in Criminal Justice and volunteered at a recreational center working with at-risk youth, on her days off from being an EMS Provider in the Greater Richmond Area. She earned her nursing degree from ODU. She has worked in the health care area for over 27 years, mostly in areas of inner-city high-risk youth, has been an EMS provider/Paramedic for 27 years, and has been a registered nurse for 11 years.
Born in Germany (Dad was in US Army.) to a Puerto Rican mom and a Black dad (both are from Brooklyn, NY), Nurse Womack is very proud of her Latin roots. She is bilingual and remembers learning to Latin dance at age 11. She recalls her mom telling her "Learn to Latin dance like the Electric Slide." She loves dancing salsa and merengue. Her favorite Latin dishes are mofongo (fried mashed plantains), arroz con habichuelas (red beans and rice), pasteles, plantanos, and colita (Spanish cola).
Mrs. Womack is no stranger to the COVID healthcare crisis our world is experiencing. She knows the exhaustion that many healthcare workers are experiencing during the pandemic. She has strengthened her professional expertise by completing multiple Biological Disaster Trainings through FEMA (Homeland Security). Nurse Womack is fortunate for the opportunity to serve PPS saying "I am grateful for the opportunity to make an impact in an inner-city school where the need is."
Uniquely Wired! A Story about Autism and its Gifts by Julia Cook
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson & Sean Qualls
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Mrs. Bushey & Ms. Miller
Leer abre las puertas de otro mundo!
WOW! Norcom's Library SHINES Bright
BRIGHT things are going on at I.C. Norcom High School
Give us a brief introduction of yourselves?
I am Mrs. Bushey and I've been a media specialist in PPS for 15 years and spent my last 7 years at Norcom. I'm Ms. Miller and I worked in PPS as an elementary teacher for 9 years before becoming a library media specialist at Norcom 3 years ago.
Describe the inspiration to transform the library?
Our inspiration to transform the library has been to make it an inviting and uplifting space for our school community; to make it a place that not only promotes literacy but a space where the students want to be. In a world where reading sometimes seems to take a back seat for much of our younger generation, creating a space where they want to allow us the opportunity to share our love of reading with them.
As part of our transformation, we took the curtains down, brightened up the space with color and LED lights, and graciously accepted new furniture from Norcom alumni and School Board Chairman Dr. Patillo. We have also started a Makerspace where students can visit during lunch to do arts and crafts, listen to music, play board games, participate in STEM activities, and even compete in friendly competitions and challenges.
One of our goals was for students to actively participate in this transformation. On any given day, students are making book and/or maker space recommendations and helping to design and decorate window displays. Students are taking ownership of the library, transforming our space into a "true" student-centered learning commons.
What are you doing to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we collaborated with one of our Spanish teachers, Mrs. Figueroa, and her students. Together, we came up with the concept for the windows. We wanted to display Hispanic art, flags from Hispanic/Latino countries, as well as promote books from our collection by Hispanic/Latino authors or with Hispanic/Latino main characters. One of her students suggested that we create a Google Form competition with the Hispanic/Latino flags to get students involved in the celebration. Our goal was to promote literacy, celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and get our Greyhounds involved as much as possible.
To also promote literacy during this month, we (along with one of our 12th-grade library interns) created a Google Slide presentation on our library website to showcase these books so students have the opportunity to learn more about these amazing authors and their works! The presentation is interactive; it links to the authors’ websites and contains videos about the books and even a virtual sticker board that students can participate in. Mrs. Figueroa painted the art in the windows and came up with the phrase, “leer abre las puertas de otro mundo”, which translates to “reading opens the doors to another world”.
What are your favorite readings and recommendations for books during this month?
We absolutely LOVE Elizabeth Acevedo’s work! She is the author of The Poet X, With the Fire on High, and Clap When You Land - all of which we have in our collection. She also is a spoken word artist and holds many awards and recognition for her work. Check out her site here!
The Poet X is an amazing novel in verse about Xiomara - a young girl growing up in Harlem who discovers slam poetry to learn and understand her mother’s religion and her own connection to the world.
With the Fire on High is the story of Emoni - an Afro-Latina who dreams of making it in the culinary world. But when the opportunity arises to visit Spain on a class trip, she finds it a challenge as she is a young mother and struggling financially.
Clap When You Land is a beautifully written novel in verse - alternating viewpoints between two sisters who have never met or known about one another - until their father tragically dies in a plane crash.
Each of her pieces is unique, however, they share one thing in common - each of her stories celebrates Hispanic culture and makes the reader connect with the main characters. What great books to read during such a special month.
What do you each love about working in PPS?
(Bushey) I love working in Portsmouth Public Schools because it is such a tight-knit community that genuinely cares so much about its students. Our students are so diverse and I love showing them what the library can offer them. Having such a supportive faculty enables us to collaborate and teach students important library skills.
(Miller) I love working for Portsmouth Public Schools because of our children. The students in our division are so resilient and strong, brave and loving, intelligent, and inspiring. Just conversing with them allows you to gain insight into their lives, experiences, and fosters long-lasting relationships. Even on the toughest days, I leave the school building knowing that the work I do makes a difference. It is because of them that I strive to be the best librarian and person that I can be.
How can your library push for a culturally inclusive setting in your school and in our division?
Our library can push a culturally inclusive setting in our school and in our division by being a space where each and every student can...
-be seen, accepted, and loved for who they are.
- be themselves without the fear of being judged.
-be exposed to literature where they are represented, while also gaining empathy, tolerance, understanding, and appreciation for one another’s differences.
We strive to build a collection and create a space including activities and displays where all people are represented and celebrated for who they are.
PPS Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Email: janeen.campbell@portsk12.com
Website: https://ppsk12.us/about_pps/departments/departments_a-f/diversity__equity_and_inclusion
Phone: 757-393-8728
Facebook: facebook.com/PPSOfficeofDEI
Twitter: @PPSOfficeofDEI