Inclusion and Diversity

Inclusion and Diversity at DVHS

The DVHS PTSA is committed to supporting the SRVUSD and San Ramon Valley Council PTAs goals of promoting the acceptance of similarities and differences within our school communities, making schools and PTAs welcoming to all and collaborating with on-campus student organizations to promote student awareness and participation.

The DVHS Inclusion & Diversity Committee coordinates with DVHS PTSA, Admin, Staff and Leadership to provide a welcoming and inclusive school community, reflective of our diversity. For information or to join the committee at DVHS, please contact Charlene Migrditchian.

mlk day of service

Monday, January 18th is the 35th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Observed each year on the third Monday in January, for the last 26 years, the day of service celebrates "a day on, not a day off" and is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

Please check out the links below for ideas on how your family can participate and give back to the San Ramon community or wherever you’d like to make a difference.

The King Center is planning a week of virtual events to celebrate Dr. King's legacy starting January 11th. View more information here. Read a collection of famous and inspirational quotes from Dr. King here.

MLK

no place for hate

DVHS is working to uphold the Anti-Defamation League No Place For Hate designation. The No Place For Hate Program works to create a safe school environment for all students. It provides teachers and administrators tools to engage in productive discussion about discrimination and bias.

Two members from the DV Leadership Wellness Team will be giving a short presentation at the PTSA meeting on Tuesday, November 17 on the tasks, as well as the help they need, to maintain the No Place for Hate designation.

noplaceforhate

native American heritage month - November

November is Native American Heritage Month

First declared in 1990, the month provides an opportunity to commemorate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and acknowledge the important contributions of Native American/Indigenous people. It is also an important time to educate about the bias, discrimination, and unique challenges faced by Native American/ Indigenous people both historically and currently and the ways in which they have confronted these challenges.

In schools and (virtual) classrooms, Native American Heritage Month is a good time to explore Native American history and culture as well as the injustices faced by them and how that injustice has been and continues to be confronted and overcome. However, as with other similarly themed months, it is important not to isolate Native American history and culture into one month during the year. Below is a list of educational resources to bring the themes of Native American Heritage Month to your homes in November and throughout the year.

Listen

Read

Do/Act/Explore

Library of Congress Exhibits and Collections

Watch

Resources

NativeAmerican

Supporting Our LGBTQ+ Community

A Note From SRVCPTA’s Inclusion and Diversity Chair, Krista Glaser

I recently spoke at a local PFLAG meeting about my experiences coming out and living as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in our SRVUSD. During a time when LGBTQ+ students may be separated from their support systems and courts are deciding if our families will—or will not—continue to be recognized, organizations like PFLAG are needed more than ever. We are proud to partner with them and offer them this space to share:

PFLAG's vision is to create a world where difference is celebrated, and all people are valued inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Our mission of support, education, and advocacy guides our work on this important goal. PFLAG Danville supports this mission by:

Running on-going support groups for family and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals and providing referrals to resources. Family support and acceptance are critical for the health of our LGBTQ+ children!
Providing education to the community on the issues that are important to our LGBTQ+ children
Advocating for inclusive policies and laws.

We are currently running our monthly support meetings online to give you the support you need during this most challenging time. Whether you are:

A parent or family member on a journey supporting an LGBTQ+ loved one;
A parent or family member who suspects someone you love is LGBTQ+ and aren't sure how to approach the subject, or if you should;
An LGBTQ+ adult (18+) who is newly-or not yet-out to your family;
A teacher, counselor, or school administrator providing online instruction and looking to help support LGBTQ+ students who are out at school but not at home; or
An adult (18+) friend or ally looking to provide support as you shelter in place,

PFLAG Danville-San Ramon Valley has you covered. Ready to join us? Contact us at srvpflag@gmail.com or call 925-338-0215. lgbtq

Latinx heritage month - September 15th to october 15th

Latinx Heritage Month honors the achievements, contributions, culture, and history of the Hispanic and the Latinx American people. This month-long celebration begins on September 15th, commemorating the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The commemoration kicked off in 1968 as a week-long event and expanded to four weeks in 1988 to reflect Mexico's, Chile's, and Belize's Independence days and now ends on October 15th. The Latinx population makes up about 18% of the population in the US.

Here are a few informational websites for the DVHS community that helps explore the rich history and the culture of the Latinx people:

Latino Americans: Timeline of Important Dates (PBS.org)

Latino History (National Museum of American History)

Hispanic Heritage Month Activities, History, Timeline, Ideas, Events, Facts & Quizzes (Factmonster.com)

“18 Major Moments In Hispanic History That All Americans Need To Know” (The Huffington Post, 2015)

“How Mexican Immigration to the U.S. Has Evolved” (Time, March 15, 2015)

“Central American Immigrants in the United States” (Migration Policy Institute, August 15, 2019)

LatinX

If You're Human, You're Biased. Now What? Bias Film Screening - TBA

DVHS PTSA is pleased to bring our community of students, parents, and staff to have an opportunity to screen the award-winning documentary, "Bias" from the comfort of your home The film highlights the nature of implicit bias, the grip it holds on our social and professional lives, and what it will take to induce change. "If you're human, you're biased. Now What?." There is so much conversation about Bias today, but how many people understand the how and why of implicit bias? Check out the trailer here!

"[B]ias is a film that challenges us to confront our hidden biases and understand what we risk when we follow our gut. Through exposing her own biases, award-winning documentary filmmaker Robin Hauser highlights the nature of implicit bias, the grip it holds on our social and professional lives, and what it will take to induce change."

PTSA

Inclusion and Diversity