DEB Newsletter
Volume 7
May 2021
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The DEB Committee is excited to bring you the final installment of our newsletter for this school year! |
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May Is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! |
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The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month – a month dedicated to recognizing the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. The Library of Congress features several audio and video clips that you can watch with your family to learn more.
There are also many helpful resources available to uplift Asian and Asian American voices and encourage self-education from the Smithsonian Institution.
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Three Quick Questions for the Kaura Family |
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Kenilworth’s Kaura Family: From left to right, Arjun, Varsha, Ashish and Aanchal.
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DEB founding member Rebecca Quigley sat down with Kenilworth’s own Kaura family to honor local Sears’ voices on the occasion of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Varsha and Ashish Kaura moved to the Chicago area in 1999 from New Delhi and have two children, Arjun (19) and Aanchal (13), who is an eighth-grader at Sears. Next year, Ashish will serve on the Sears School Board as a New Member.
Among the many insights they offered, here is one that stands out: “While we have formed a few strong relationships in the community, we also find it harder to establish a connection in many cases - perhaps the unconscious bias of seeking the company of one’s own kind gets in the way.”
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Did you know that Kenilworth families hail from around the world? Our neighbors have lived in Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, France, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Singapore, and South Africa. Who have we missed? Please send in a map colored in by your kids to be featured in our next newsletter! We want to learn from all of YOU! Email our communications team!
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Littles: The Name Jar (ages 4-8) by Yangsook Choi.
A familiar immigrant tale of having an unfamiliar name and feeling like an outsider until an extraordinary act of kindness and bravery changes everything.
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Middles: Other Words for Home (ages 10-14) by Jasmine Warga.
A young girl from Syria tackles fitting in at her new American school while facing discrimination from her classmates and even her American cousin.
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Nomadland a film by Chloe Zhao
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Last month, Chloe Zhao became the first woman of color to win the Best Director Oscar with her film, Nomadland.
This compelling work depicts a new, disenfranchised segment of our population: the modern nomad.
The film beautifully explores the journey from grief and loss to eventual survival while on the road in the American West. The filmmakers included real life nomads in their casting, deepening the authenticity of this searing storytelling.
Beijing born and a protege of Spike Lee, Ms. Zhao brings fresh inspiration and hope for the future of the American cinema.
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We Are HEROS Celebrating Juneteenth |
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Each June 19, Americans across the country celebrate the day as “Juneteenth,” the oldest national celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.
There are a series of Wednesday zoom events leading up to the Juneteenth walk that begin on May 26, 2021, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
So sign up, tune in and walk your way through our local history of racist segregation towards a path for a more equitable tomorrow.
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A Conversation with Heather McGee |
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On Wednesday, June 16th in anticipation of Juneteenth, join United Way of Metro Chicago and United Way of Illinois for a discussion with author Heather McGhee who will discuss her latest book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.
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DEB Wants to Hear from You.
Fill Out Our Survey!
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Spring has sprung, and The DEB Committee wants you to come grow with us! A little "packet" will be coming home to you in the next few days - please scan the QR code or click here to participate in a survey on how The DEB Committee can better serve our Joseph Sears School community. |
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In February 2019, members of the JSSPVA met with the Joseph Sears School Administration to encourage richer dialogues and augmented programming around diversity, equity, and belonging in our school community. In response to this request, the JSSPVA and the administration co-created the DEB committee in August 2019 with monthly meetings beginning in November 2019. 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. |
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The Joseph Sears School DEB Committee
Faculty/Staff Committee Members
Nancy Economou, Social Worker
Hilary Harvey, Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator
Jennifer Arra, Fourth-Grade Teacher
Bill Gordon, Vocal Music Teacher
Myra Love, Student Services
Toula Sideris, Third-Grade Teacher
Parent Committee Members:
Kathy Ambrosino, Shawn Bard, Marjorie Bransfield, Tanya Brown, Sarah Czepiel, Analia Elizalde,
Steve Fifita, Allison Fitzgerald, Brittany Gottschall, Joe Guarino, Omar Khalaf,
Radhika Maheshwari, Anaga Maira, Sumita Mehta, Vanessa Menton, Steve Mugg,
Amisha Muthialu, Joanna Naftali, Kyra Nelson, Douw O'Kelly, Erin Paul
Kristin Pilant, Anne Ryan, Janet Scholl, Meredith Sullivan
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Interested in joining the DEB Committee? Please fill out the following form and a committee chairperson will reach out with more information. |
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The Joseph Sears School Diversity, Equity, Belonging Committee
542 Abbotsford Road, Kenilworth, IL, 60043
School Office: 847-256-5006
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