Mission
Pollyanna creates discussion platforms for groups of people to explore issues of diversity, equity and inclusion;
and to share experiences and knowledge. We believe in being eternally optimistic even in the face of challenge. Pollyanna exists to be part of the solution.
March/April 2019 Update

Greetings!
Hard to believe spring break is over and the end of the school year is not that far off! Below is a quick update of our activities:

• K-8 Racial Literacy Curriculum Professional Development
We have been meeting and speaking with many schools ready to implement this curriculum in fall 2019. Please reach out if you'd like to discuss further. We are on schedule to release the curriculum this month allowing schools to familiarize themselves with it before fall. We are offering professional development either at your school or we are hosting an open session for schools on Saturday, June 1 from 9AM to noon. Please click here to register.

• Challenge Grant for the Parent/Guardian Companion Guide
We are very excited to announce we have received a challenge grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to create the Parent/Guardian Companion Guide for Pollyanna's K-8 Racial Literacy Curriculum. This Guide will launch at the end of summer 2019 for schools implementing our curriculum in fall 2019. This piece will support our curriculum by educating parents on what they need to know to reinforce classroom messages around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. This is a 1:1 grant, and in order to receive the grant of $46,000, we need raise $46,000. Please consider donating:
  • By check made payable to Pollyanna, Inc. with “Parent/Guardian Guide Challenge Grant” written in the memo section and sent to Pollyanna Inc., 19 East 80th Street, 8th floor, NY, NY 10075
  • By Credit Card online by clicking here. Just make sure to indicate in the “Add Special Instructions" area that your gift is for the "Parent/Guardian Guide Challenge Grant”

Francis W. Parker , Chicago, Il
Francis W. Parker hosted its first Intra-Conference on March 30 -  Race, Privilege and Community Building: Cultivating Ideal Citizenship and Belonging. The day began with a school-wide assembly with Duchess Harris, professor at Macalester College, telling a compelling story from her book “Hidden Heroes: The Human Computers of NASA,” about Black Women Scientists working in the early days of the space program of which her grandmother was one. This was followed by a workshop with Dr. Harris, small group focus sessions and a student panel. The day ended with a town hall Q&A. Throughout the day there was an eagerness by all attendees to share personal stories about experiences with belonging and brainstorm ideas for moving the culture of belonging at Parker forward. 
What an impactful conference. The vulnerability expressed by students, alumni, administrators, faculty, was compelling and their reflections, advice, and ideas for next steps will be essential for improving the culture of belonging at Parker. This conference got to the heart of the matter quickly and authentically. I feel really fortunate to have worked with you all at Pollyanna to implement the day.
~ Ruth Jurgensen, Assistant Principal


What’s coming up?
NYSAIS Diversity Conference , NYC, Pollyanna will run a workshop on our curriculum on April 9
Wheeler, Providence, RI will host its first conference: Power, Privilege, Equity & Voice on April 27
Dalton, New York, NY will host its ninth conference on Implicit Bias on April 27
Flint Hill, Oakton, VA, will host its first intra-conference: The Community of Care: The Flint Hill Vision on May 18


Enjoy the beginning of spring!
Casper Caldarola
Founder
Francis W. Parker's Conference in Chicago
Pollyanna Family
 The Children's School • Atlanta, GA
The Dalton School New York, NY
Far Brook School Short Hills, NJ
Flint Hill School • Oakton, VA
Francis W. Parker Chicago, IL
Francis Parker San Diego, CA
Harvard-Westlake Los Angeles, CA
New City School • St. Louis, MO
The Pennington School - Pennington, NJ
Ravenscroft • Raleigh, NC
St. Clement's School Toronto, Canada
Town School for Boys San Francisco, CA
Vermont Academy • Saxtons River, VT
The Wheeler School Providence, RI
Contact us to join the growing list of Schools in our family.
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Pollyanna, Inc. is a New York not-for-profit corporation 501(c)(3). © 2018 Pollyanna.

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