A lot of people I know have been asking themselves this past week about how to talk to their kids about Islamophobia, bigotry, hatred, and violence. As the parent of a 5½ -year-old I can tell you I have a terrible sense that I am failing the world if I do not talk to my […]
Beautiful stories about Muslim kids: Counternarratives Read More »
Happy International Women’s Day!!! Today we honour, celebrate, and remember the achievements of women around the world to the social, political, economic and cultural fabric of our society. The United Nations theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” to “focus on innovative ways in which we can
It’s International Women’s Day Read More »
Outrage over a recent hockey game reverberated through social media after a Black hockey player, Jonathan-Ismaël Diaby, was targeted by racist taunting and slurs. People are angry not only because of the racist incident in which a so-called “fan” called Diaby the n-word and mimicked a gorilla, while his family and girlfriend were harassed by
In March, 2018, Parents for Diversity, along with black organizations in the National Capital Region, met with then Attorney General of Ontario, Yasir Naqvi, to discuss systemic racism in schools. During the meeting, parents shared their experiences of being silenced by teachers and school boards, and feeling alienated when their children experience anti-black racism. The
A Weekend of Workshops on Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Schools Read More »
My 6-year-old recently declared she is going to be an artist when she grows up. When she does arts and crafts, she gets in this zone that is beautiful to watch. You can see she is feeling inspired, thinking about what new things she can try and so totally focused. Neither me, her father nor
Dreams of a young artist: Role models and inspiration Read More »
February is Black History Month. Last year, the Government of Canada officially recognized the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, which is being observed from 2015-2024. As a student, I rarely learned about black history. I recall the rare occasions that black people were presented in learning materials, what my high school
Who Said there are No Resources for Teaching Black History? Read More »
A couple of years ago, an incident occurred at my children’s daycare that really reinforced for me how powerful an educator can be, either for good or bad, in affecting a child’s confidence and sense of self-worth. Our daycare organized a Father’s Day breakfast, and I had arranged for my uncle to accompany my daughter
Making space for diverse family structures in activities at school and daycare Read More »
My child came home from daycare one day in what appeared to be war paint and a headdress they had made at daycare. Another time, she brought home a book with a character who got attached to a post while the Indigenous people ran around him in kindergarten. This year, the Ministry of Education approved
Indigenous Curriculum Read More »
Book ReviewRefugee By Alan Gratz This book can be purchased at Mill Street Books in Almonte A few days ago, Canada granted asylum to Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, an 18-year old Saudi woman who claims that she fled abuse from her family in Saudi Arabia. After fleeing to Thailand, Rahaf launched a social media campaign about
Welcome to Parents for Diversity’s new blog. We thought we’d ring in the new year by launching our blog! Each new year welcomes possibility, hope and adventure. One of the most important aspects of the work we do is to encourage families, communities and schools to reflect on how we can achieve a more inclusive
2019: Be the change you want to see Read More »
