UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education

06/19/2024

"Juneteenth is a time to recommit ourselves to the work that remains undone. We remember that even in the darkest hours, there is cause to hope for tomorrow’s light." Barack Obama, June 2016

Today is Juneteenth and a fairly new federally recognized holiday (2021). Though it is a new holiday for some Americans, many African American/Black communities have been celebrating resistance and resilience with Juneteenth for years.

Below are a few links to learn more:

-Brief history from TedED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq8TNKZVEWs

-What Juneteenth means to Texas from Texas A&M University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJlp8EiBKW0&t=1s

-Juneteenth information and resources from National History of African American History and Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth

-"The Juneteenth Mixtape" from Be Antiracist with Ibram X. Kendi: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cQO41A1PK78a2OsPAZxPz?si=hAHXmw0oRySNyRY###jI1A&nd=1
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Image description: A Juneteenth garden flag divided red on one side and blue on the other with a white bursting star in the center. The colors are not divided in a perfect line, but in an arc, which signifies a new horizon for Black people. The flag was designed in 1997 by Ben Haith.

06/17/2024

Thank you to and for hosting this week's Juneteenth events! We were happy to have our exhibit, "With All Deliberate Speed: Desegregation in Asheville and Buncombe County" on display along with ASCORE yearbook photos at the Shiloh Community Center during today's session. Today's Lunch and Learn session honored the legacy of the Civil Rights Workers: James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, who were killed while supporting voter registration efforts in Mississippi 60 years ago.

To learn more about these free events, go to mlkasheville.org/events/juneteenth-2024-events

06/05/2024

June is also Caribbean American and Immigrant Heritage Month! Here are some great resources on how to bring this to your classroom:

Caribbean American Heritage Month

National Archives (): archives.gov/news/topics/caribbean-american-heritage
US Department of the Interior (): doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/national-caribbean-american-heritage-month-infographic.pdf
New York City Schools (): schools.nyc.gov/learning/subjects/social-studies/caribbean-american-heritage-month

Immigrant Heritage Month

Here are some great resources on how to bring this to your classroom:
American Association of School Librarians (): ala.org/aasl/advocacy/promo/immigrant-heritage-month
I Stand With Immigrants/I Am An Immigrant (): iamanimmigrant.com
American Federation of Teachers (): sharemylesson.com/collections/immigrant-heritage-month

Image Description:
The image is split into two sections with a blue wavy line from the top right corner down to the bottom left. Along the line are the words “June is…”, leading into the point that June is Immigrant Heritage Month and Caribbean American Heritage Month. The bottom right section is labeled Caribbean American Heritage Month. On top of the words, but under the wavy line, are a series of 6 palm tree graphics of various sizes. In the top left section is labeled Immigrant Heritage Month. Directly below the text “immigrant Heritage Month” is the royal blue UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education watermark logo. Under the logo, but above the wavy dividing line, is a graphic of a map with dotted lines and various location markers signifying the moving of locations.

06/03/2024

June is Pride Month! Even though centering LGBTQIA+ voices should happen year round, this is a great way to learn more about how Pride began as well as ways to continue to support the LGBTQIA+ community today.

Here are some great educator resources:
1. Five Trailblazers You Should Know from https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/five-trailblazers-you-should-know-pride-edition

2. The history and many resources on Pride month from https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/resources/

3. LGBTQ+ Support & Protection Toolkit from
https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/racial-social-justice/tools-justice/lgbtq-support-protection

4. Pride Month Resources from https://www.socialstudies.org/resources/pride-month
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Image description: Animated depiction of a variety of people standing in a line holding a 'Love Wins' sign, a 'Embrace Who You Are' sign, a Progress Pride Flag, and the Trans Flag. The top of the image has a wavy rainbow bordering with the words 'Happy Pride Month' displayed underneath.

05/24/2024

LAST CALL! Please share with educators that directly work with K-12 students OR support K-12 curriculum! Applications close on Monday, May 28th!

The UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education is searching for educators that work directly with students or academic coaches that support curriculum to review and develop CDE programming and resources based on area educator needs. CDE K-12 advisory board meetings will take place every other month in 2024-2025.
Interested applicants should complete this form: bit.ly/3UkFw6l

Are you an area educator interested in serving on a K-12 advisory board?

The UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education is searching for educators that work directly with students or academic coaches that support curriculum to review and develop CDE programming and resources based on area educator needs. CDE K-12 advisory board meetings will take place every other month in 2024-2025.

Interested applicants should complete this form: bit.ly/3UkFw6l

05/17/2024

The UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education is searching for educators that work directly with students or academic coaches that support curriculum to review and develop CDE programming and resources based on area educator needs. CDE K-12 advisory board meetings will take place every other month in 2024-2025.
Interested applicants should complete this form: bit.ly/3UkFw6l

Applications close on May 28th! Please share!

Are you an area educator interested in serving on a K-12 advisory board?

The UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education is searching for educators that work directly with students or academic coaches that support curriculum to review and develop CDE programming and resources based on area educator needs. CDE K-12 advisory board meetings will take place every other month in 2024-2025.

Interested applicants should complete this form: bit.ly/3UkFw6l

05/16/2024

Educators! Check out this contest open to all Buncombe County students to determine our 2024 'I Voted' election sticker. Learn more about design guidelines, submission directions, and an elections themed lesson plan: https://engage.buncombecounty.org/2024bcelectionstickercontest

From Buncombe County Government: "Calling all Buncombe County young artists! Election Services is hosting its 2024 'I Voted' Sticker Contest.​ Any Buncombe County artist up to age 18 is invited to submit a sticker design by July 12.​ A few stickers will make it far enough in the competition to be voted on by Buncombe County residents. Sticker Contest voting will begin August 1 in the 'Vote' tab.​ Top artists and the winning sticker designer will have an opportunity to be recognized by the Board of Elections and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. The winning sticker will be distributed during the November Presidential Election to all voters in Buncombe County."

Buncombe County elections officials have once again opened up the "I Voted" sticker design contest to anyone under age 18 who is a county resident!

05/11/2024

Congratulations to all bulldogs today 🐾 We were happy to support yesterday's Lavender and Donning of the Stoles ceremonies hosted by 🎓

05/05/2024

Join us Friday, May 10 from 2-4 pm for an "Just Films" Screening of Dolores: A Documentary on the Life of Labor Activist Dolores Huerta.

This 2017 documentary chronicles the life of labor activist Dolores Huerta as she bucks 1950s gender conventions by starting the country's first farm worker's union with fellow organizer Cesar Chavez. What starts out as a struggle for racial and labor justice soon becomes a fight for gender equality within the same union she is eventually forced to leave. As she wrestles with raising 11 children, three marriages, and is nearly beaten to death by a San Francisco tactical police squad, Dolores emerges with a vision that connects her new found feminism with racial and class justice.

The 95 minute film will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Dr. Kimberly Nava Eggett, director of the Center for Diversity Education at UNC Asheville.

Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7bkfjx-nvSUs5J1kQIs9fpkMMCDZUVwUOcVAFAgbQSKa94A/viewform?pli=1

05/03/2024

Are you an area educator interested in serving on a K-12 advisory board?

The UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education is searching for educators that work directly with students or academic coaches that support curriculum to review and develop CDE programming and resources based on area educator needs. CDE K-12 advisory board meetings will take place every other month in 2024-2025.

Interested applicants should complete this form: bit.ly/3UkFw6l

05/01/2024

Did you know May is both Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month AND Jewish American Heritage Month? Check out our last post for AAPI Heritage Month resources!

Jewish American Heritage Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of American Jews. This has been celebrated since 2006 when President George W. Bush made a proclamation declaring May to be Jewish American Heritage Month.

Here are some great resources on how to bring this to your classroom:
Jewish Heritage Month: https://www.jewishheritagemonth.gov/ForTeachers.html

Jewish American Heritage: https://jewishamericanheritage.org/for-educators/

National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/jewish-american-heritage

Image Description:
Around the top right and bottom left corners are frames made up of blue and yellow flowers and foliage along with the Star of David. In the top left corner, there is a graphic of the Torah. In the center are the words “May is… Jewish American Heritage Month”. In the bottom right corner, there is the royal blue UNC Asheville Center for Diversity Education watermark logo.

05/01/2024

This month is BOTH Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. We'll do two posts to honor both sets of resources!

From History.com: “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.” 

Here are some great resources on how to bring this to your classroom:

Asian Pacific Heritage: https://asianpacificheritage.gov/ForTeachers.html

NEA: https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/teaching-asian-and-pacific-islander-heritage

Learning for Justice: https://www.learningforjustice.org/asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-resources

History: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month

Image Description: On the left side of the image, and along the bottom are drawings of many Hasegawa flowers (a flower often depicted in Japanese art). In the top right of the image are the words “Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month” and below that we have the word “May” to display that AAPI Heritage Month takes place in May. Below all of the text is  the light blue UNC Asheville Center of Diversity Education logo.