Blog
Five picture books to read for International Women’s Day (with kids of ALL genders)
Did you celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8th? Often overlooked in the discourse around IWD is transgender women. Our motto at Parents for Diversity is “Picture Books Can Change The World,” and to that end, we are offering…
Did you know yesterday was a historic FIRST day in Ottawa?
Thanks to the work of the Somerset West Community Health Centre and inspired by similar work in Toronto, Mayor Jim Watson declared yesterday the first ever Black Mental Health Day in the city of Ottawa. “…March 2nd, marks the first…
So. Many. Good. Books. Why. Read. Seuss?
As Black History Month winds down, we are taking a pause to focus on lesser-known books about and by Black Canadians. We are reminded that the Black Canadian community represents a diversity of experiences and origins. It underestimates the depth…
Why We Should Celebrate Black Authors During Black History Month
What do last night’s Academy Awards and Black authors have in common? You may recall a tweet by Stephen King in January in which he claimed, “…I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to…
Is Your School Ready for Black History Month?
Welcome to Black History Month! Black History Month was first formally recognized in Canada in 1995 when the Honourable Jean Augustine, first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, introduced a motion that recognized February as Black History Month (BHM). It…
Will You Join Us in Our Year-End Gratitude?
This will be our final blog post of 2019. Today, we are writing to thank you. Thank you for being a part of our community. Thank you for sharing your struggles, your needs, your fears, and your triumphs with us….
Why are Black Educators Networks Necessary and Important?
We are delighted to celebrate the recent formation of Black educators networks at the two English language school district boards in Ottawa (OCDSB and OCSB). There are many other Black educators networks in Ontario including Ontario Alliance of Black Educators,…
Do You Know the Dos and Don’ts of Planning for Black History Month?
Black History Month is soon approaching. As parents, we want to ensure that educators are intentional and purposeful in their approach to celebrating Black History. We thought we would share some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when planning…
How to Break Barriers!
We are full of gratitude for all the educators, parents, and caregivers who joined us this weekend for Breaking Barriers: Achieving Black Student Excellence. While many painful and difficult facts about the challenges Black students face in educational spaces were…
How to organize a primary school dance that is both revolutionary and community-building
Last year my oldest child attended her first school dance. She was in kindergarten. When I received the flyer for the dance at our public primary school (kindergarten through grade 8) I remember thinking “Why the heck are they inviting…
