SEPTEMBER 2021
Greetings!

The start of the school year is always an energizing time for the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. While education may continue to look different this year, the need to advance equity and inclusion in schools across Virginia remains as great as ever.
 
Our team at VCIC is responding to that need by facilitating a record number of programs for students and educators across Virginia. This summer, those programs included the inaugural Virginia Institute for Belonging and Equity (VIBE), several multi-day professional development institutes, and consulting for school and district administrators. As one school leader recently shared:
 
"You gave our faculty so much good information... for navigating challenging conversations - and for building a culture of belonging, inclusion, and acceptance."
 
And VCIC's program work is not just in our schools. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and more are calling upon the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, resulting in dozens of VCIC programs each week for institutions of all sizes across multiple sectors. You can see day-to-day updates by following VCIC on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  

As you begin the 2021-2022 school year, please let us know how VCIC can continue to support your community. We look forward to working with you!
VCIC Updates & Announcements
Calendar of Holidays & Festivals: 2021-2022
VCIC's Calendar of Holidays and Festivals is a resource designed to encourage public awareness of the great diversity of religious and ethnic groups that live in the United States. Holidays and festivals are included for many religious, ethnic, and public occasions. Click here for the 2021-2022 calendar.
Teacher Resource: 20th Anniversary of 9/11
As we approach the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, it is important to be thoughtful about how to responsibly explore this day with students. The events can be frightening and traumatic, and should be introduced with sensitivity in age-appropriate ways. It is also critical to ensure that lessons and conversations about 9/11 do not marginalize or target students who are Muslim, Arab, or South Asian. Click here for resources compiled by VCIC to help educators prepare.
Violins of Hope
Violins of Hope, a touring exhibit that tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during one of history’s darkest times – the Holocaust – is in Richmond through October 24, 2021. The Virginia Holocaust Museum, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia are each showcasing several violins from the exhibit as a loaned display. Many other violins will be used for concerts and educational events throughout the community. Please contact Megan Ferenczy, Virginia Holocaust Museum’s Director of Education to discuss how we can bring the history of “Violins of Hope” to your classroom. Access the Violins of Hope Teacher’s Guide and learn more about the exhibit, concerts and program here!
Fall Student Forums
Information is being emailed to school contacts regarding the following free virtual programs for schools:

  • October 13 - Richmond Prejudice Awareness Summit (free for Richmond-area middle schools thanks to sponsorship from Atlantic Union Bank)

  • October 26 - Peninsula Prejudice Awareness Summit (free for Peninsula-area middle schools thanks to sponsorship from Atlantic Union Bank)

  • November 11 - Peninsula Diversity Dialogue Day (free for Peninsula-area high schools thanks to Dominion Energy)

  • December 7 - Richmond Diversity Dialogue Day (free for Richmond-area high schools thanks to Dominion Energy)

Lynchburg and Tidewater forums will be scheduled for spring 2022. Contact Emma for more information about VCIC's student forums.
Register Today for the Virginia Inclusion Summit
Registration is now open for the November 16, 2021 Virginia Inclusion Summit. This 3rd annual event will bring together workplace professionals, government employees, and higher education students and administrators for a day of learning, sharing, and connecting. VCIC will convene the day virtually. Click here to learn more and register for the Summit!
Featured Articles and Curriculum
Upcoming Contests, Funding, and Programs
CONTESTS
(Contests linked to diversity, inclusion, and leadership)
FUNDING
(Grant opportunities to recognize leadership or support projects and clubs)
PROGRAMS
(Initiatives and observances to advance character education and inclusion)
VCIC State Office
5511 Staples Mill Road
Suite 202
Richmond, VA 23228
Phone: (804) 515-7950  
VCIC Hampton Roads Office
at Virginia Wesleyan University
Allen Village, Graybeal 5
5817 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Phone: (757) 390-0720