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  • 1.  Diversity awareness bulletin board

    Posted 08-26-2022 12:08
    I'm trying to create a series of months for our bulletin board that moves us through different focus areas based on the "heritage of the month" celebrated nationally.   This is an ongoing project I might have to let percolate another school year while I gather resources and objects for the board.  I've got resources for about half the year gathered to make QR codes to recent websites, and I'm running out of time before staff and students return to the building.  Somewhere in here I have to revamp our Stagecraft curriculum, lol.  I know most of you are more acting-focused, and I'm awed by your abilities to find beautiful wording that conveys the message in an equitable way.

    For September, I want to focus on artists (representing music, art, dance, and theater) who are living with disabilities.  The idea is to have the name of the month and "Focus on XXXXX in the Arts" across the top of the board.  After sleeping on it, though, "Focus on Disabilities in the Arts" seems....unappealing?  Reductive?  I need help with the wording.  It could be "representation of disabilities in the arts," which doesn't give the whole picture either.

    I'm sending this out to the forum for feedback and best word choices, knowing that none of our communities are monoliths, and there are many "right" answers.  Maybe someone has already tackled this and can give me pointers?  Here's the year that I have planned - there are several that could use help with the wording, I believe.

    September: Focus on Disabilities in the Arts
    October: Focus on Hispanic/Latino Heritage in the Arts
    November: Focus on Native American Heritage in the Arts
    December: Focus on Winter (Holiday?) Celebrations:  What do you celebrate this time of year?
    January: Focus on Eastern Heritage (?) in the Arts (This was Eastern Theater and related arts, but....words)
    February: Focus on African American Heritage in the Arts
    March: Focus on Theater in Our Schools and Women's History Month
    April: Focus on European Theater and Arts
    May: Focus on Asian and Pacific American Heritage in the Arts
    June: Focus on LGBTQIA2S+ Contributions to the Arts

    Thanks in advance for your input, and any resources you want to send my way!

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    Yvette Geissinger
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  • 2.  RE: Diversity awareness bulletin board

    Posted 08-27-2022 07:47
    September: focus on overcoming challenges (or adversity)

    Sent from my iPhone


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  • 3.  RE: Diversity awareness bulletin board

    Posted 08-29-2022 09:12
    Hi Yvette!

    Great thoughts and questions. There are a lot of different opinions. For instance, some people with disabilities want to be called people with disabilities. Other performers I know prefer varied abilities. I often talk about development differences (we all have different needs). This EdTA webinar we just did discusses working with students who have disabilities (and is co-presented by a performer with a disability); she shares some of her personal perspective at the beginning. I'm happy to reach out to her if you'd want her to ZOOM in and talk with your class during the month of September (whether you do that this year or next).

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    Kirsti Lewis
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    Original Message


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