This video gives you an overview of Parents for Diversity and our work. We will introduce you to our NEW Parent Advocate, Bernadeth Betchi, and to the resources used in advocacy, our newly redesigned website, Diversity Library, Parent Toolkit, and more.
Advocating Each and Every Day with Parents for Diversity Read More »
To be called the n-word is an unfortunate yet inevitable rite of passage for Black children. Most of us can remember the first time it was called to us. I also remember the first time my child was called the n-word. A classmate approached them and asked them to finish this sentence, “I like salt
Does the n-word belong in the classroom? Read More »
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
What does it look like to centre anti-racism in education amidst a viral pandemic? Read More »
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
In Solidarity With Parents of Black Children and Allied Organizations Read More »
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
How to Break Barriers! Read More »
You may recall our blog post from a few weeks ago discussing how colouring worksheets can uphold bias, reinforce stereotypes, and erase racialized children from the curriculum. Here’s an update on what happened after speaking up about that worksheet. My child’s teacher responded to my email: “Sometimes we get caught up in the hoopla of
When Speaking Up Works!A Success Story (And How You Can Speak Up Too) Read More »
We are fortunate to live in a city where our school board offers French and English language instruction beginning in kindergarten. There are so many advantages to being multilingual, and I’m grateful that my daughter has access to this kind of education. When she brought home this pair of colouring sheets from her kindergarten class
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
Islamophobia in Our Schools Read More »
When Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) stepped into an elevator in 1955 on his way to a meeting with his publisher, Houghton Mifflin, he encountered Annie Williams, the elevator operator. She was “an elegant, and petite woman who wore white gloves and a secret smile”.[1] Ms. Williams would later serve as the inspiration behind
How Blackface can be a teachable moment…in the Classroom and at Home Read More »
How many of us have been asked this question and have felt a sense of anxiety and discomfort but feel obliged to respond? The mere essence of the question reinforces social stratification. Every time I have been asked about my ethnicity, an alarm automatically goes off in my head. Small talk can be a great
Where are you REALLY from? Read More »
