Category Archives: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Celebrate Juneteenth!

President Abraham Lincoln may have issued his Emancipation Proclamation on January 30, 1863, but it was over two years before enslaved people in Texas received word, when Major-General Grange read General Order No. 3 (above) on June 19 in Galveston. Juneteenth has been celebrated on June 19 since, and in 1980 Texas became the first… Read More »

Thank you, Upstanders!

Thank you to all of those students who attended our How to be an Upstander! training on June 1. We all learned a lot from each other and have taken big steps toward making Hillcrest an even greater place to be! We look forward to coming together again after the summer break to continue our… Read More »

Be an Upstander! Training for Students

The Hillcrest PTA Diversity and Equity Committee is excited to offer “Be an Upstander!” to your child/ren. This after-school activity will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 4:10 – 5:00 pm. It will be led by PTA Diversity and Equity Committee co-chairs, Taylor Crockett and Mindy Merlo. Unfortunately, transportation will not be available.… Read More »

Words Matter

Do you ever worry that you are using the wrong term to describe someone? We know that language matters, but do we understand the history behind the labels we use? Join us for a conversation about language, identity and labels. Everyone is welcome! This month’s Equity Committee discussion is a collaboration with the Catonsville Middle… Read More »

A Conversation with Cousins

Parents and caregivers, we invite your students (and you!) to join us for an afternoon conversation with Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby, co-authors of Cousins, the story of what happens when a White woman, Phoebe, contacts a Black woman, Betty, saying she suspects they are connected through slavery. Recently profiled in the Baltimore Sun,… Read More »

Get comfortable with uncomfortable conversations!

Is there something you’d love to chat about? “Getting Comfortable with Uncomfortable Conversations” is the Equity Committee’s monthly opportunity for us to gather, chat and learn about a predetermined topic. Virtual conversations are held the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30, beginning this Tuesday, October 5!  Think you’d like to lead a group? Let… Read More »

The Equity Committee Has a Diversity Problem

As many of you know, the Hillcrest Elementary PTA has an active Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Not quite two years old, we’ve focused much of our energy and activity on the Equity piece of our work. We host a monthly discussion group to tackle issues like systemic racism and cultural appropriation; have formed a student… Read More »