Equity and Diversity Council (EDC)
West Hartford Public Schools continues to see steady changes in our racial, ethnic and socio-economic demographics and embraces the richness that diversity brings. The Equity and Diversity Council (EDC) currently exists as a staff advisory committee that seeks to promote equity, advance diversity, and foster inclusiveness, acceptance, mutual respect and support, civility and non-discrimination across all areas of our district’s programs and services.
The work of the EDC is aligned with the WHPS’ mission and vision for Clear Paths. Bright Futures. No Limits.
The purpose of the Equity and Diversity Council (EDC) is to support and sustain a diverse educational community that is inclusive and equitable by examining, developing, and improving systemic practices, programs, and policies.
The EDC Subcommittees are:
For more information about the Equity and Diversity Council, subcommittees or ways to get involved, please contact:
Roszena Haskins, Director of Continuing Education and Diversity Advancement at 860-561-6900 or roszena_haskins@whps.org.
Mission
The purpose of the Equity and Diversity Council (EDC) is to support and sustain a diverse educational community that is inclusive and equitable by examining, developing, and improving systemic practices, programs, and policies.
For more information about the Equity and Diversity Council, or ways to get involved, please contact:
Roszena Haskins, Director of Continuing Education and Diversity Advancement at 860-561-6900 or roszena_haskins@whps.org.
Meeting Dates, Agendas and Minutes
2018- 2019 Equity and Diversity Council (EDC)
All EDC meetings will take place on Thursdays from 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm in Room 400 of Town Hall located at 50 South Main Street. See meeting dates below (Please bring your parking ticket inside to be validated).
2018-2019 Meeting Dates:
9/27, *10/18, 11/15, *1/24, 2/21, *3/21, 4/25, 5/23 (End-of-Year Reflection/Celebration- Location TBD)
- *Dates when Subcommittees will meet in assigned Town Hall locations.
- On other dates, the Core Membership will meet, but ALL are welcome to attend.
Next Meeting: The Core EDC will meet on Thursday, February 21st at 3:45pm in Town Hall Room 400. All are invited to attend.
2018-2019 Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Monthly EDC Digest of Subcommittee Highlights, Events and Highlights
Sept. 27, 2018 EDC Meeting Agenda and Minutes
2016- 2017 Equity and Diversity Council (EDC)
Resource Links and Upcoming Events
UPCOMING/CURRENT EVENTS:
23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Each year the event that pays tribute to Dr. King’s ideals and vision grows more popular and inspiring. The event draws nearly 400 people each year. The celebration is free and open to people of all ages.
Open Choice Dine and Discuss: Moving in Action for Equitable Classrooms: February 12th, 4:15 pm - 6:15 pm, Irving Robbins Middle School, Farmington. Members of the West Hartford Equity and Diversity Council will describe the work their five subcommittees have done to examine, develop and improve systemic practices, programs and policies in their distric
Sons of Thunder Education Conference
Saturday, March 30th, 8am - 5:30 pm, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering. Holistically Addressing the Contemporary Young Urban Male
The 4th annual conference on Dismantling Systemic Racism-Friday, April 26th, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. Sponsored by the State Education Resource Center (SERC) in collaboration with the SERC Foundation, focuses on ways to support, promote, and develop racial equity in education.
PAST EVENTS:
Check out the announcement of the December 5th
WHPS and CCSU Future Educators of Diversity and Project Blue Devil Direct Partnership Rollout Ceremony.
FEOD_Blue Devil Direct Partnership
Everyone Included Part 2: LGBTQIA+ Wednesday, October 24 , 9:30 am - 4:30 pm- Wallingford Public Library, Libraries are a place where children’s imaginations take flight. Books, programming, and activities launch possibility into motion. Children are free to dream big dreams of who they can become in the world. That magic happens in part because children seem themselves reflected in the images and stories around them. But what about the LGBTQ youth and families your library serves? Do they see themselves in your stories and on your shelves?
In addition to covering the basics (terms and definitions), this 2 hour workshop will explore teaching tips and strategies for inclusivity, offer participants the opportunity to share ideas for increasing awareness and empathy, and provide a short list of some of the best resources in books and videos.
"Dawnland" Film Screening Showing Mon. 10/8, 4pm Noah Webster House - 227 South Main Street, West Hartford -The film casts a spotlight on a state welfare policy in Maine that forcibly removed Native children from their families and placed them in white foster homes with the intent of erasing Native identity and heritage. Over the course of two years, Dawnland filmmakers traveled to the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot tribal communities in eastern Maine to gather information and testimonies from survivors, family members, and state welfare workers. The film draws from the first state-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission in the U.S., established to bear witness to oppressive state policies toward Native peoples in Maine and to chart a new course for state and tribal relations.
Dave Stevens, Motivational Speaker, Tue Oct. 9, 7pm, Norfeldt. Dave Stevens was born without legs. He was a 3-sport athlete in high school and college, played Minor League Baseball and won 7 National Sports Emmy Awards while at ESPN. Dave shares his amazing story about his he turned his disability into his ability while overcoming adversity. His words will move you. His life will inspire you.
Children's March Showing-Sun. 9/23, 2pm - 4pm Auditorium of Charter Oak International School- Join West Hartford friends and neighbors as we learn the story of how the children of Birmingham, Alabama fought segregation in 1963 through nonviolent protest and were catalysts for positive change that impacted our entire nation. Stay for the youth led panel discussion about activism in our schools and community, featuring West Hartford students.
Witness Stones Project and Installation Ceremony- Wed. 9/26, 9:30 am - 11:15 am- The ceremony will take place at First Church 12 S Main St, West Hartford, and the installation will take place at 34 N Main St, West Hartford - Acknowledging the Enslaved. Remembering George and Jude Remembering the Goodmans and the Sedgwicks Come to the ceremony and hear Conard students tell the stories of these men who were enslaved Witness the stones placed in the Old Center Cemetery.
Open Choice Family Celebration
Family Celebration Flyer-Invitation
Family Celebration Video Invitation
Voices- A storytelling event
Friday, May 18 at 6pm- Charter Oak International Academy Ampitheater. Please see flyer for more great details.
Open Choice Leadership - Success Nothing Less: Approaches to Closing the Opportunity Gap
March 21, April 26, May, 10. 55 Van Dyke Avenue, Hartford
/uploaded/EDC/Success_Nothing_Less_OC_Leadership_Institute_Flyer_2018.pdf
Transgender? Bi-gender? Pan-Gender, Non-binary? What?
Wednesday, May 23, 8am - 4pm, CREC Central, Hartford
(RSVP to roszena_haskins@whps.org)
/uploaded/EDC/Transgender_Bigender_Pan-gender_Non_binary_What_PD_Flyer.pdf
The MOUNTAINTOP- A Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King on the 50th anniversary of his last speech, I've Been to the Mountaintop Tuesday, April 3 5pm - 7pm -Town Hall Auditorium
Raising Transgender Youth with Love and Care- Dr. Elijah Nealy, Ph.D., Wednesday, Feb. 28th ~ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Conard High School
/uploaded/EDC/Raising_Transgender_Youth_with_Love_and_Care_Presentation_2-28-18.pdf
NCCJ Two-Day Anti-Racism Workshop (Rescheduled for Thr. 3/1 and Fri. 3/2)
https://nccj.org/two-day-anti-racism-workshop
Book Buzz: Teaching Equity and Diversity to Young Children
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Noah Webster Library, Meeting Room 20 South Main Street, West Hartford, (860) 561-6980 Jane Breen, the West Hartford Libraries’ Children and Families Outreach Coordinator, will share many books, offer ideas for extended book activities, and facilitate discussion among participants about successes and challenges in tackling these topics with young children. To register, e-mail register greatby8@gmail.com.
West Hartford to Celebrate Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The annual celebration will take place on Jan. 15 at 10:00 am in the Town Hall Auditorium. The celebration will feature speakers, including two high school student speakers, musical performances and much more...
https://patch.com/connecticut/westhartford/west-ha...
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, West Hartford Public Schools and Solomon Schechter Day School Present: Thinking Beyond Disabilities; A Conversation about Intersectionality
Monday Jan. 15 at 7:00- 8:30 pm - Solomon Schechter Day School, 26 Buena Vista Road, West Hartford
https://www.facebook.com/157989274225138/photos/gm...
Waking Up White
January 20, 2018 @ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
It’s time to talk — and listen — about racial injustice. If you’re white, chances are you’ve been taught not to talk about race. If you’re a person of color, you may be wondering what it is that white colleagues aren’t (yet!) understanding. Join Debby Irving, author of Waking up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, as she shares how her own white-skewed belief system enabled her to affirm harmful racial patterns for decades rather than question and dismantle them. Together, we will explore white privilege and our own, often subconscious, roles in perpetuating racism at the individual, interpersonal, institutional and cultural levels. The day will include time for reflection, dialog, and Q&A. Lunch provided, space is limited. MUST Register to attend.
http://www.whfirstchurch.org/event/waking-up-white...
Resources:
Anti-Defamation League of CT
http://connecticut.adl.org/?_ga=2.181939687.158090...
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
NCCJ
True Colors
We Need Diverse Books
Teacher Vision
https://www.teachervision.com/diversity/teacher-resources/33631.html
Welcoming Schools
http://www.welcomingschools.org/research/
Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) Events
Media, Reports and Presentations
Diversity Advancement in the West Hartford Public Schools
05 June 2018 Equity and Excellence Board Report
See full version PowerPoint Presentations from the June 5, 2018 Equity and Excellence Board Presentation
-Equity and Excellence Board Presentation
-Elementary Racial Justice Training
-English Language Learners at Hall: Strategies for Success
-LGBTQIA: Culturally Responsive Practice
2017-2018 Equity and Diversity Council 2017-2018 Activities, Outcomes and Opportunities
2017 Equity and Diversity Council Update
Welcoming Families through the Lens of Equity
Welcoming Schools Board of Education Report 2016
Curriculum through the Lens of Equity BOE Report and Presentation
Board of Education Presentation Slides
West Hartford Marks Three Kings Day
West Hartford Public Schools Honored as Cornerstone of Regional ‘Open Choice’ Program
West Hartford Public Schools
50 South Main St, West Hartford, CT 06107
T: 860-561-6600
F: 860-561-6910