 | | March 2022 Update from Pollyanna | | March 2022 Dear Friend, As one very clever meme recently put it: The temperatures in New York lately have felt like reading Powerball numbers. In spite of all the variability, I know many of us are looking forward to the transformations of spring; the warmer weather, longer days, spending time outdoors, and maybe even returning to a semblance of pre-pandemic life. More than anything, I’m sure we all crave the hope that often comes when winter slips away. Hope has carried me through these last two years. Where do we find hope now in our country that is so divided, as Russia invades Ukraine, and in a world that seems to relentlessly deal out problems that are overwhelming and frustrating? With all the access we have to information in 2022, I sometimes feel like I can spend all day scrolling and reading about everything that is wrong with the world. Instead, I try to remind myself that there is so much we can do to help. Action alleviates frustration. And, more importantly, it is an opportunity to align behaviors towards personal values. If you are thinking about ways to align your actions with your hopes and values, here are a few resources that have lifted me up in the past few weeks: The Today Show vetted five groups helping Ukrainians displaced by violence. Red, Wine, and Blue is a group advocating for diversity education, sensible, science-based public health measures, and making sure students continue to have access to a wide variety of voices in literature. The Who We Are project is a stunningly powerful film that aims to shift the dominant American narratives about race and racism. It is the story of how one man’s personal journey can inspire all of us to combat injustice regardless of our identity. “Simply put, banning books is bad. It deprives people young and old of exposure to ideas, concepts, and world views that are not their own. It stifles curiosity. It perpetuates stereotypes.” ~ Ali Velshi John Oliver’s explanation of CRT is thorough, and often side-splitting. But make no mistake, this is a powerful analysis that concisely and humorously illuminates how CRT - a graduate level course of study, has been purposefully transformed into a toxic brand to be used against those advocating for racial justice and equity. CELEBRATE: The nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court. May she be the first of many. We offer free, monthly discussion sessions for 13 to 18-year-old teens. Guest speakers kick off the meeting, and we talk about ways to create more inclusive school communities. Out of everything on this list, nothing gives me more hope than seeing this group of young people share their stories and solve problems. This is a very short list. Please reply to this email with other opportunities and suggestions. We’d love to hear your thoughts. May a hopeful spring get here sooner rather than later. All best, | |  | | | | | | |  | Teen Pollyanna's March 6 Meeting Megan Hogan will share her professional journey and current role as Chief Diversity Officer at Goldman Sachs, followed by plenty of time for Q&A. There will also be a robust group discussion on how to navigate difficult conversations. Sign up under Announcements. | | | |  | | Bring a Coffee and Join Us on March 8 Join Jacqueline Nelson, former kindergarten teacher, DEIB educator, and mom of an adorable toddler, as she creates community and supports participants in learning how to talk about race with each other and with their children. Click to register. | | |  | | We Kick-off a New Cohort on April 6 | | | |  | | The High School Curriculum Preview on March 5 Join us for this 3-hour overview workshop and learn about the High School Racial Literacy Curriculum's structure, scope, and sequence, and preview activities from each of the eight subject areas. Click to register. | | | | | | | | | | Upcoming Workshops & Discussions 3-5-22 -- Teen Pollyanna Free Monthly Discussion with Guest Megan Hogan 3-5-22 -- High School Curriculum PD Overview with Julia Kingsdale Join us for our first 3-hour overview of our high school curriculum facilitated by Curriculum Project Manager Julia Kingsdale. Attendees will learn about the curriculum's structure, scope, and sequence, and preview activities from each of the eight subject areas. There will also be an opportunity for educators to ask questions about how to implement the curriculum in their classrooms. Please click here for subject reviews: Advisory – 23 April 2022, Health & Wellness – 23 April 2022, English – 7 May 2022, History – 7 May 2022, Technology – 4 June 2022, Art – 4 June 2022, Math – 11 June 2022, and Biology – 11 June 2022. 3-8-22 -- MaPaGa+ABCs of Race-Conscious Parenting with Jacqueline Nelson Join us for a new 4-part workshop for parents/guardians of children four years and younger. Jacqueline Nelson, former kindergarten teacher, DEIB educator, and mom of a two-year-old, will create connections and community for families with young children and teach the group how to talk about race with each other and with their children. Click here to learn about the sessions and register. 4-6-22 through 5-18-22 -- Showing Up and Standing Up with Jay Golon and Jessy Molina Join us for the 3rd cohort in this 4-part series: A Journey Towards Antiracism for White Adults. This series on race and racism will empower and support you to show up and stand up for racial justice in meaningful ways. Please click here for more information and to register. 4-9-22 -- 3-Hour K-8 Racial Literacy Curriculum Overview PD with Jason Craige Harris Join us for an interactive 3-hour overview and in-depth discussion of Pollyanna's free K-8 Racial Literacy Curriculum. This session is a great introduction for faculty/admin or for new faculty/admin, if your school has already implemented the curriculum. 4-11-22 -- RIISE & Pollyanna Host the Authors of "Place of Privilege" Join us for a discussion with authors Mark Robinson and Raymond Smaltz, III. In the mid-1960s, Dalton reached out to previously unfamiliar communities of color and for the first time actively recruited minority students. Mark and Ray are among the very first young Black men to attend Dalton. “Place Of Privilege” tells the story about what happened to the Black boys placed into this strange new world, without any support system or rules of engagement. Intra- and Multi-School Conferences Pollyanna offers two conference models that can be hosted at school or on Zoom: the Multi-School Conference and the Intra-School Conference. Each has the goal of creating a stronger community and generating Actionable Ideas. Click here for more information. St. Luke's School, New Canaan, CT, April 2022 Brentwood School, Los Angeles, CA, April 2022 Dalton School, New York, NY, May 2022 Ravenscroft School, Raleigh, NC, May 2022 Reach Out if We Can Be of Help and | | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | | | | Pollyanna, Inc. is a NY not-for-profit corporation 501(c)(3). Louisa Wells: Design © 2022 Pollyanna | 10075, New York, NY 10075 | | | | | | | |
