May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - a celebration of the 22.2 million Asian Americans and 1.6 million Pacific Islanders in the United States whose rich heritage has shaped the history of the United States while having their lives dramatically influenced by moments in its history. The month of May was selected by Congress for two reasons: first, to commemorate the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843; second, to honor the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which upwards of 20,000 Chinese workers helped to construct. The month pays tribute to the generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched United States history and are instrumental in its future success.

Since 1949, Mental Health America and its affiliates across the country have observed May as Mental Health Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Back to Basics.” Many people have realized that the stress of the pandemic has taken a toll on their mental health and well-being. The goal of this year’s outreach is to provide foundational knowledge about mental health and mental health conditions and information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern. More information including this year’s toolkit can be found here.

Support Our Family Services (OFS), which is an organization based in Arizona that provides for homeless youth, including those who have run away or been kicked out of their homes for being members of the LGBTQ+ and other minority communities. The OFS Reunion House serves and houses teens aged 12-17, usually for a few weeks, while they await placements in other homes. The home provides food, transportation to school, and other necessities, while also providing a safe and fun space for the youth. OFS provides service to its community through other means as well, including transitional apartments for ages 18-24, counseling, and crisis assistance. This organization aims to ensure teens’ safety and comfort by bringing families back together using informative classes that help parents understand their children’s needs and identities. For young adults, Our Family Services programs provide safe and affordable housing, along with other necessities.

If you’d like to help these youth in need, please consider purchasing items from this Amazon Wish List the student DEB group has created for items the Reunion House has requested. Items purchased from the Wish List can be sent directly to the Reunion House at the following address: The OFS Reunion House, c/o Cindy McClain, 2590 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712. Any items purchased would be greatly appreciated!

If you are interested in learning more about Reunion House, here is a link to a tour of their facility: Reunion House Virtual Tour.

Meet up with other Sears parents for safe, informal and supportive monthly discussions about parenting and diversity. No topic is off-limits, but we request that conversations are kept in confidence among those who attend. Our next meetup will take place on May 21st from 10 to 11 am, on the lawn at the Kenilworth Assembly Hall. RSVP to Sumita Thakurta at sthakurta@yahoo.com.

The DEB Committee was created in 2019 to encourage richer dialogues and augmented programming around diversity, equity, and belonging in our school community. The committee is made up of parents, faculty, administration, socio-emotional learning team leads, and a school board member representative. This unique collaboration amongst school and community stakeholders allows for diverse perspectives on the committee and in the schoolhouse.

Kate Donegan, Superintendent, kdonegan@kenilworth38.org

Stephanie Helfand, Principal, shelfand@kenilworth38.org

Mia Sachs, School Board Liaison, msachs@kenilworth38.org

Rebecca Quigley, Parent Lead/HEROS Liaison, rebeccaquigley@aol.com

Shawn Bard, JSSPVA Liaison, shawnbard@gmail.com

Nancy Economou, Social Worker

Hilary Harvey, Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator

Bill Gordon, Vocal Music Teacher

Gabriella Noyes, Social Worker 

Adrienne Eynon, Steve Fifita, Brittany Gottschall, Katalina Groh, Joe Guarino, Anjali Kase,

Kyra Nelson, Erin Paul, Kristin Pilant, Sofia Reyhani, Janet Scholl, Meredith Sullivan

Interested in joining the DEB Committee? Please fill out the following form and a committee chairperson will reach out with more information.

School Office: 847-256-5006