UGDSB celebrates Black Heritage, Black Brilliance, Black Futures Month
January 31, 2022
GUELPH, Ontario — What’s in a name? Black student groups driving this work in the Upper Grand District School Board requested that the month be named Black Heritage, Black Brilliance and Black Futures month in 2021.
This intentional name represents a balanced approach to understanding that the history, reality, and future of people of the African diaspora involves immense racism and injustice including slavery AS WELL AS pre-slavery history, excellence, social justice action and positive contribution.
Throughout the month of February a variety of resources and supports centering Black histories, experiences and contributions are highlighted and made available in order to support learning and celebration across all grades in the UGDSB. We are excited to present a collection of opportunities to celebrate and learn, summarized in the calendar below:
Resources and supports include but are not limited to:
Spotlights
- Guelph Black History Society – Denise and Kween
- Dufferin Area Black Brilliance
- Dr. Eugenia Addy and STEM
- Natasha Henry
- The Ealey Family
- OOFI!/Tyrell Harris
- Hymn to Freedom
- CDDHS Black Chapter
- GCVI Black Student Union
- Dr. ABC
Live UGDSB Events
- Dr. Cheryl Thompson
- Local Black History and Erasure – Wellington County Black History with Wencke Rudi (GBHS and U of G) and Kyle Smith (Wellington County Museum)
- Orlando Bowen, One Voice, One Team
Resource Highlights
- Black Excellence in the Early Years
- Curation of Events – Skye Bowen
- Curation of Resources – TDSB
- UGDSB Resource Highlights
- Niagara Museum Black Military Exhibit
- Cool Black North- Learn 360
- Mr. Jane and Finch- Learn 360
- Booklet – GBHS – Guelph BME Church, by N. Henry
- ETFO 365 Black Canadian Curriculum
Student Voice Resources
- Hair Love
- Shadeism and Colourism
Capacity Building
- Teaching Black History in the UGDSB with Natasha Henry
- Educator Supports and Resources
- Building Capacity and the Learning Continuum- Monthly Heritage Celebrations
The month of February provides us with an excellent opportunity to celebrate Black Heritage, Black Brilliance and Black Futures. The learning that can occur during days, weeks or months of Heritage Celebration cannot end when those terms end. It is our intention that the resources provided will continue to enrich the teaching and learning in the UGDSB throughout the year and that the celebration of diversity is a continuous aspect of culturally relevant responsive pedagogy and inclusion.
Categories: News Tags: Black Brilliance • Community • Diversity • Equity • Inclusion