December 2020 Update from Pollyanna
 
December 2020
 
As Pollyanna enters its second 5-years of existence, we feel incredibly proud of where we stand. We are also enormously grateful for the strategic, emotional, and financial support we have received from our ever-growing network. It is you, who either support what we do or with whom we engage in the vital work of diversity, equity, and inclusion, who have made the last 5 years fulfilling and possible, and who will help us to do even greater work over the next 5 years.
 
In the spirit of growth… Invite your white friends, parents, guardians and grandparents to our new series starting in January -- Showing Up and Standing Up: A 5-Part Journey Towards Antiracism for White Families. We are also offering new Professional Development workshops for faculty and administrators starting in January. The links for more information and to register are below under Announcements. We hope to see you there!
 
We are also very excited to announce that we are developing a free 9-12 Racial Literacy Curriculum, which we will launch in summer 2021! Many schools have requested a high school racial literacy curriculum, and we will finally be able to extend our work to include high schools. The success of our free K-8 Racial Literacy Curriculum has been extraordinary. We are thrilled to be able to expand the scope of what we will be able to offer schools. We are also very grateful to the small group of very generous donors whose contributions will make it possible for Pollyanna to develop this curriculum. If you would like to be first to know when it is available, please add your information to this Google Form.
 
A recent article entitled “Strengthening the Role of the DEI Practitioner,” written by Judith Osborne for NAIS Magazine, shares the following sentiment:
 
“The work is purposeful. It trains, builds, evaluates—gets sucker punched—rehydrates, then immediately gets right back in the ring. DEI work is not for the faint of heart. It is the quintessential example of the grit we try to encourage our students to develop. Despite often being complicated and sometimes frustrating, the work is necessary.”
 
We couldn’t agree more. 
 
We hope you will consider a gift to Pollyanna on this Giving Tuesday so that we can continue to move forward in this necessary work - and maybe even get a little sucker punched along the way.
 
The Pollyanna Team wishes you a relaxing and safe holiday season and that 2021 brings happiness, healing, and hope!
 
All best,
Casper Caldarola
Founder
 

In the News

Pollyanna is a Sponsor at PoCC Again This Year!
Every year around this time we say, "Stop by our table." As PoCC is virtual and a little different this year, we hope to see you in one of the sessions or events. We are so impressed with the team at NAIS for the incredible speakers they've invited and workshops they've put together. We know how challenging it can be to take a known conference and bring it online. We have no doubt that it will be an extraordinary fews days of being together!
Far Brook Hosts its 5th Pollyanna Conference
Far Brook's first conference was four days after Donald Trump was elected and its fifth conference was four days after Joe Biden won. This year's conference focused on the student voice and even on Zoom, the students' voices were heard! “Inspired by a hunger for racial justice, some truth-telling from our speakers, and all of the student voices, we took another step together toward becoming the authentic and inclusive school communities we aspire to be. We can't wait for year six. Thank you, Pollyanna!" Mikki Murphy, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Community.
 

Announcements

 
New Schools Join the Pollyanna Family:  We're excited to welcome Gill St. Bernard's School in New Jersey, Pilgrim School in California, Nightingale-Bamford School in New York, Shady Hill School in Massachusetts and Spence School in New York.
 
Mark Your Calendars for a New Series
Showing Up and Standing Up: A 5-Part Journey Towards Antiracism for White Families
20 January 2021, 7PM ET, “I don’t really see race...” - Examining White Identity
17 February 2021, 7PM ET, “I’m the least racist person…” - Unpacking White Privilege and Power
10 March 2021, 7PM ET, “I don’t want to say the wrong thing…” -  Navigating Conversations about Race
14 April 2021, 7PM ET, “I feel like I don’t know how to help...” - What Does it Mean to be an Ally, Accomplice and Co-Conspirator?
12 May 2021, 7PM ET, “I just want to do the right thing...“ - Committing to an Antiracist Life
Click here for more information and to register for the series. And, please share with your family, friends and colleagues!
 
New Professional Development Offerings and Pollyanna's Curriculum Overview for Faculty and Administrators 
Click on each title for more information and to register. Please share!
 
How Can We Be of Help This Year? Email info@pollyannainc.org for more information.

2020-21 Zoom Forums for Educators and Parents: Below is the schedule and the Zoom links.

Educator Forums: Each one have a new topic, will take place at 5:15PM ET and will last one hour. Please mark down these dates: January 21, February 22, April 8, May 17 and June 22. Each month we will publish the Zoom link in this newsletter.
Educator Forum #4: December 7, 2020 05:15 PM ET
Topic: Self-Care Over Break
Meeting ID: 915 4533 4982 and Passcode: Bally
 
Parent/Guardian Forums: Each one have a new topic, will take place at 11AM ET and last one hour. February 18, April 13, 11 AM; June 23, 11AM.
 
January 30, 2021: St. Luke's School in Connecticut will host its first Pollyanna Intra-Conference.
 
March 6, 2021: The Town School for Boys in California will host its second Pollyanna Conference. 
 
MISSION
Pollyanna advances systemic change by developing stronger communities.
STRATEGY
Pollyanna works with academic and other institutions to achieve their diversity, equity and inclusion goals. Through its unique conference models, discussion platforms, and racial literacy curricula, Pollyanna increases cultural competence.
 
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Pollyanna, Inc. is a NY not-for-profit corporation 501(c)(3).
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© 2020 Pollyanna | 10075, New York, NY 10075

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