educational resources
Core to our mission is to educate and expose people to new information and ideas. We all have more to learn in order to better promote true inclusivity in our community.
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Black history month
Who started Black History Month?
In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History,” proposed a national “Negro History Week,” to showcase Black History. Woodson, whose parents were enslaved, was an author, historian and the second African American to earn a Ph.D. at Harvard University. He recognized that the American education system offered very little information about the accomplishments of African Americans and founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASAALH).
It wasn't until 1976, during the height of the civil rights movement, that President Gerald Ford expanded the week into Black History Month.
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Why is Black History Month in February?
Woodson chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass, a famed abolitionist who escaped from slavery, and President Abraham Lincoln, who formally abolished slavery.
Why is Black History Month important?
Woodson believed it was essential for young African Americans to understand and be proud of their heritage. Black History Month reminds all of us that every person is equal. It is a month to remember history but also a time to reflect on how we need to treat everyone with respect and break down the barriers that continue to stoke racial discrimination. Why Black History Month Shouldnt be a Single Month
Here's how to celebrate Black History Month
The theme of Black History Month 2021 is "The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity," chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. "The family offers a rich tapestry of images for exploring the African American past and present" ASAALH writes on their website. Many institutions, including the ASAALH and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, offer digital programming for those celebrating at home.
BLACK HISTORY RESOURCES
JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH: LGBTQ+ ALLYSHIP RESOURCES
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month! Pride Month occurs in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBTQ+ people have had in the world.
The Stonewall riots (also referred to as the Stonewall uprising or the Stonewall rebellion) were a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the gay community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. Stonewall is widely considered to be one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the twentieth century fight for queer rights in the United States.
The fight for the LGBTQ+ community’s right to marry; the right to foster and adopt children; to be free from discrimination, hate speech, and hate crimes; and to simply allow queer folks to exist is ongoing. While we acknowledge the progress we’ve made, we also have a long way to go.
Beyond this month, here are some of the things you can do to support the community:
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Donate your time or money to national or local LGBTQ+ organizations
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Be an ally for your LGBTQ+ friends and family by supporting them and educating others
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Use the name and pronouns you are asked to use
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Stand up against LGBTQ+ discrimination by contacting elected officials
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY RESOURCES
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Holocaust Remembrance Day also known as Holocaust Day and Yom Hashoah is a time set aside to remember the approximately six million Jews and 5 million others who perished as a result of the genocidal actions of Nazi Germany. In addition to acknowledging the many lives lost, Holocaust Remembrance Day is also a time to think about the impact of antisemitism, racism, hatred and intolerance and what can be done to lessen incidences in our communities and the larger world. The day also recognizes the acts of heroism that were performed during this time.
In 1959, Israel passed a law to establish Yom Hashoah. (The word shoah means “utter destruction” in Hebrew.) It falls on the 27th of the Jewish month of Nissan. The date marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. It is a day set aside for Jews to remember the Holocaust and the attempted genocide of the Jewish people. This year, Yom Hashoah will begin at sundown on Wednesday, April 7th and will end at nightfall on April 8th. Yom Hashoah generally falls between April and May.
In 2005, the United Nations instituted an international observance, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is held annually on January 27th. The date was chosen as it is the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Aushwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops in 1945.
Many countries have instituted their own Holocaust Memorial Days and have designated various dates for observances.
There are various ways to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day. Some people will light a yellow candle to honor the lives lost.
To learn more about the Holocaust and the atrocities that resulted from unchecked hatred, the following resources may be helpful:
https://www.ushmm.org/learn - The United States Holocaust Museum
https://www.facinghistory.org/topics/antisemitism-religious-intolerance - Facing History and Ourselves
https://www.splcenter.org/presscenter/splc-statement-observing-international-holocaust-remembrance-day - Southern Poverty Law Center
https://www.adl.org/education-and-resources/resource-knowledge-base - Anti Defamation League
https://www.wiesenthal.com/ - Simon Wiesenthal Center
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elie Wiesel - Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and a prolific author on the topic.
