Intersectionality

Person with medium brown skin, dark brown natural curly hair wearing mask and backpack walking a bike down a city street

What does it look like to centre anti-racism in education amidst a viral pandemic?

/ 4 minutes of reading

The four Ottawa-area public school boards are in the process of transitioning students back to learning both in-person and virtually, and as an organization committed to achieving inclusive and non-discriminatory learning environments that allow children to fulfill their true potential in this world, we have serious concerns about the ways in which COVID-19 is exacerbating […]

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circular logo of adults encircling children with the text Parents of Black Children

In Solidarity With Parents of Black Children and Allied Organizations

/ 2 minutes of reading

Parents for Diversity is an Ottawa-based group of parents, caregivers, and allies with varied lived experiences working to support parents and caregivers as they advocate for their children in educational spaces using an intersectional, anti-oppression lens. We recognize the pervasiveness of anti-Black racism in Ontario schools and the adverse effects of anti-Black racism on Black

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The logos of the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service

Mayor Watson and Chief Sloly: Enforcement of COVID-19 measures must respect human rights

/ 3 minutes of reading

Dear Mayor Watson and Chief Sloly,  Parents for Diversity is a non-profit organization of parents, educators and equity allies committed to achieving inclusive and non-discriminatory learning environments that allow children to fulfill their true potential in this world.  We are writing to you in your role as leaders of this city responsible for ensuring the

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Did you know yesterday was a historic FIRST day in Ottawa?

/ 6 minutes of reading

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 annual Black Mental Health Day, recognized by communities across Ontario. This important day not only

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How to Break Barriers!

/ 1 minute of reading

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 presented, innovative solutions sprung out of the hard conversations, and a real collective commitment to

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How to organize a primary school dance that is both revolutionary and community-building

/ 3 minutes of reading

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 the whole school to this dance? Why would kindergarteners want to attend a school dance?”

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Examples of women in sexy Halloween costumes

How to celebrate Halloween WITHOUT cultural appropriation or racist stereotypes

/ 2 minutes of reading

This week is Halloween, which means it is time to talk about costumes, racism, stereotypes, and cultural appropriation. We are using this week’s blog post to amplify some excellent voices that have spoken beautifully to this issue already. “Dressing up as another cultural group diminishes that cultural group to a caricature. And for youth, Indigenous

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Image of a student with a hijab reading a textbook

Islamophobia in Our Schools

/ 3 minutes of reading

Islamophobia in Canada is increasing at a concerning rate; Muslim students are particularly vulnerable to Islamophobia.  There is no shortage of stories about Islamophobic incidents both physical and verbal in our communities. Students are on the receiving end of hateful speech and actions by administrators, educators and their fellow school community members. Schools have a responsibility

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