As we take district-wide action toward becoming an antiracist organization steeped in equity, holding an appreciation for diversity, and making a commitment to be more inclusive, we are developing “Cultural Awareness/Celebration planning teams.” These teams will serve as ad hoc committees to the larger Coalition with the responsibility of planning our District-wide recognition/celebration of pivotal cultural groups, religious holidays, and social awareness efforts/movements.
Cultural Celebrations
What’s Happening Now
AAPI Heritage Month 2022
In the month of May the School District of Philadelphia celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and acknowledges the long history of Asians in America. To honor this month there are a variety of events geared toward teachers, other SDP staff, and the community at large.
What’s Coming Up
Past Events
Black History Month 2021
To celebrate Black History Month the Equity coalition hosted a series of Community Conversations focused on Black Culture, Wellness, and Civics. Each week, they hosted a virtual conversation featuring Black voices from across the District, including leaders, teachers, students, community members, and many more!
Community Conversation Topics
Black Culture: Cross Diaspora Heritage and Connections
In this special dialogue, voices representing different corners of the Black diaspora – Afro-Latinx, African, African-American, Caribbean, Bi-/multiracial- explored what it means to be Black today. We discussed the cross cultural influences that bind us in collective triumph and struggle, and explore what true unity means to us, on our own terms.
SuperSoul Thursday: Black Wellness and Nutrition in the COVID Era
Long-standing health disparities have been on glaring display during the recent coronavirus pandemic, leaving Black people particularly vulnerable. This is largely due to the social determinants of health that many Black people face, including where we live and work, and the quality of health care to which we have access. This discussion featured the state of wellness in our community, including a cooking demo on how to recreate one of our favorite cultural dishes with a healthy twist!
Black Literacy Matters: Democracy and Civic Engagement in Education
A core function of public education is to create an informed and engaged citizenry who will positively contribute to society. In order to do this, we must ensure that citizens are literate and actively engaged in our democracy. But what becomes of democracy and civic engagement when everything from historical anti-literacy laws to tracking programs work to erode democracy’s true function? A recent NYTimes times piece claimed “America Wasn’t a Democracy Until Black-Americans Made it so”. This discussion featured how literacy has been used as a means of social control and oppression, as well as Black Americans’ continuous actions to hold American true to its stated promise.
Women’s History Month 2021
The Equity Coalition celebrates Women’s History Month by hosting a series of Community Virtual Events focused on Women’s Health and Wellness, Empowerment, and Inspiring Speakers. Each week hosts a virtual event featuring the voices of women from across the district, including leaders, teachers, students, community members, and many more!
Health and Wellness Panel
A community conversation on women’s health and wellness as we discuss issues related to mental health, nutrition, and body image.
Empowerment Hour
Participants were equipped with tools that celebrate and inspire reflection and steps toward the attainment of personal goals
An Inspiring Conversation
Our student moderator interviews Jeannine Cook from Harriett’s Bookshop and Annette Jeffrey from Project HOME.
Asian American Pacific Islander Month 2021
In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the School District of Philadelphia Equity Coalition hosted two community conversations on the AAPI experience. The first of these conversations covered the Asian Diaspora, including, but not limited to dispelling stereotypes and sharing your family migration story. The second event centered around food, dispelling myths, sharing stories of the importance of food in culture, and will feature a cooking demonstration
The Asian American Diaspora
We wanted to bring awareness to issues involving the Asian Pacific American community, but also wanted to celebrate the diversity of our community, showcase student performers, teach some history about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and ask members of the School District community to share their stories with you so that everyone can learn more about the Asian Pacific Americans right here in our School District community.
Asian American Food – More than just takeout
We wanted to take time with this conversation to reframe some of the tropes about various types of cuisines enjoyed by our AAPI community and put the spotlight on food as a way of connecting with family, history, culture, and with each other.
Hispanic Heritage Month 2021
The School District of Philadelphia celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. Beginning September 15 thru October 15 this month serves a national celebration to honor the history, culture and influence of past generations who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Latinx/ Hispanic Identity and Representation
We are pleased to host an event celebrating the diversity of the Latinx community in Philadelphia. This event will be a panel that covers the topics of culture, identity, media representation, colorism, and how these different things show up in our schools.
Virtual Social Justice Summit 2022
For Philly, By Philly: Leading, Teaching, and Organizing for Equity
The School District of Philadelphia (SDP), in keeping with our Statement on Antiracism and Board Guardrail #4, has committed to reimagining and redesigning a more equitable school district.
On Monday, January 17, 2022, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, the School District of Philadelphia’s Equity Coalition hosted a virtual Social Justice Summit. Grounded in the theme “For Philly, By Philly: Leading, Teaching, and Organizing for Equity,” the core objective was to uplift and amplify the voices of individuals, program offices, and organizations throughout Philadelphia who are working to advance equity within the School District of Philadelphia.
To view the session recordings from this event, click the button below.
Black History Month 2022
This year we are offering a variety of ways for members of the SDP and Philadelphia communities to come together and engage in learning and discussion. Events have been scheduled in alignment with the following weekly themes:
Week 1 – Black Lives Matter at Schools
Week 2 – Anti-Blackness in the 21st Century
Week 3 – Shifting the Paradigm: Transformative Practices
Week 4 – Centering Black Joy and Healing
Black History Month
To access past panels and workshops from Black History Month use the button below to take you to the Black History Month website.
Women’s History Month 2022
This year’s theme, “Break the Bias: Philly Women at Work,” will focus on the work women put in, both in the workforce and at home. The month features plenty of opportunities to learn and engage on a variety of topics that affect women in Philadelphia today.
Women’s History Month
For more information on registering for panels and for recordings of past panels click the button below to view the Women’s History Month website.
Celebrate Diversity Month 2022
April is “Celebrate Diversity” Month here in the United States, although Global Diversity Awareness Month is in October. The formal national induction for the month occurred in 2004. The month was started to notice and uplift the diversity around us in the hopes that we can celebrate what makes us different and unique.
Now is a chance to reflect on diversity in a variety of ways including; how we identify, how we speak, how we think, how we move around in the world, and where we come from.
Celebrate Diversity Month
For more information on registering for panels and for recordings of past panels click the button below to view the Celebrate Diversity Month website.