PAWS Equity and Inclusion Statement

Woodburn PAWS is an inclusive organization that welcomes and supports all of our students and families. All parents and legal guardians of children currently enrolled at Woodburn Elementary School are regular, full voting members of the Parents Association of Woodburn Students and may vote at any General Membership Meeting.

PAWS does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender or gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. Our group has no dues and families are automatically members because we don’t want any family to be excluded. Our organization is aligned with Camas School District's Equity and Inclusion policies, found here:

• http://www.camas.wednet.edu/about-csd/csd-at-a-glance/equity-anti-racism/
• http://www.camas.wednet.edu/nondiscrimination
• A message from Principal Graham on Equity and Social Justice (released in Spring 2020; contains some resources)
• A message from Camas School Board after the result of the Chauvin Trial

This statement was formally voted on and adopted by the PAWS Board during our April 2021 General Meeting.

Resources

Woodburn PAWS recognizes that our families are having valuable and important conversations around race, equity, belonging, disability, identity, and privilege. Because everyone can benefit from hearing each other's stories, we are including some links to resources and stories.

NOTICE: These resources contain links to websites operated by third parties. These links are provided for your convenience only and do not constitute or imply any endorsement or monitoring by PAWS. This list will be periodically updated.

• Resources from our own Woodburn Librarian, Mrs. Sturges, include:
  • Her Virtual Bookshelf
  • Celebrate Us All (stories are chosen in hopes of providing opportunities for conversations and encouraging connectedness and framework and discussion questions are provided)
  • In addition, our school library has many great books from the reading lists linked below that students may check out. You can contact Mrs. Sturges for recommendations/availability.
• Sites that address a variety of topics from racism to disability to identity and more:
  • The Camas Equity Team has created a website which includes a page for Family Resources
  • Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance) has resources on a variety of topics for educators, but they are also great for parents
  • The Zinn Education Project promotes and supports the teaching of people’s history with free, downloadable lessons and articles organized by theme, time period, and grade level
  • A Kids Book About is a good book series to start family discussions on a number of topics, and now they also have A Kids Podcast About, all from A Kids Company About
  • A helpful article about microagressions (also available as audio) as "the ‘micro’ in microaggression doesn't mean that these acts can't have big, life-changing impacts. They can, which is all the more reason to address them when you see them."
  • This word bank from The Student Ignition Society offers kid-friendly definitions of social justice words like "ally" vs "accomplice"
• Many groups publish children's book lists and/or where to find diverse books that feature characters from a variety of backgrounds and/or address a variety of topics and some of our favorites include:
  • The Conscious Kid's Inclusive Reads List (this is a curated list of teacher-facing materials and evaluation criteria)
  • Here Wee Read's annual list of diverse children's books (a new list is released each year)
  • DiverseBookFinder.org (featuring a searchable database, as well as a circulating collection available via interlibrary loan if your local library is connected to WorldCat)
  • Summer Reading Lists from We Are Kid Lit Collective
  • SocialJusticeBooks.org (featuring curated book lists and the Anti-Bias Book Talk video series)
  • We Need Diverse Book's list of where to find diverse books (a complied list of sites that offer recommendations for diverse titles)
  • The Information Book Awards each year from the School Library Association highlights non-fiction titles for children and provides "useful guides, lesson plans and templates to help schools and reading groups work with Information Books."
  • Scholastic's diverse guided reading book lists (lists broken down by reading level)
  • Read Across America's list of recommended-books
  • American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) "provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books"
  • The Iris Center has a book list featuring portrayals of people with disabilities that you can sort by topic
  • "35 Books Starring Mighty Girls with Disabilities"
  • "A Different Way of Thinking: 30 Books About Autistic Mighty Girls"
    
  • TeachingBooks.net has an author and illustrator pronunciation guide where authors and illustrators have provided brief recordings of their names so teachers, parents, and readers can say them correctly
  *Look at what titles you currently own or check out from the library, are all the books featuring diverse characters heavy or about trauma and hardship? Look for titles that also show kids from all different backgrounds and experiences also just being kids and experiencing and celebrating joy. And this Twitter thread started by @heisereads did a great job highlighting how we need to examine not only a book's message but also its illustrations with a critical eye because while it may be strong in message in one area (representation/an inclusive cast of characters, an important message, etc.), stereotypes/microaggressions/harm can be perpetuated in other areas (see talk in the thread about the eyes, but also the wheelchair, clothing, and adornment). Sometimes the whole book is a loss, but sometimes it can be a worthwhile exercise to engage with your young reader to help them examine the work critically and learn.

• On the topic of race and racism (in addition to information from Learning for Justice and Kids Book About):
  • Talking About Race from The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture is "a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture"
  • EmbraceRace offers many free virtual webinars with experts (replays are posted on their site) as well as resource and book lists
  • The National Museum of African American History and Culture (who has a “Talking About Race” section)
  • The Asian American Foundation has lots of resources, and here is an article with links to other articles and “6 Charts That Dismantle The Trope Of Asian Americans As A Model Minority,” which also points out how the stereotype has been used as a racial wedge
  • Talking with Kids About Race: Virtual Toolkit "has resources to use WITH young children, as well as resources to EDUCATE parents, educators, and caregivers OF young children"
  • Self-Evident Media's digital humanities resources and multimedia tools for educators and Pollyanna's free K-8 Racial Literacy Curriculum
  • Raising Race Conscious Children is "a resource to support adults who are trying to talk about race with young children"
  • AMAZEworks "offers anti-bias education curriculum, programs, and training for schools, and organizational and individual cultural assessments, consultation, and equity training for communities, nonprofits, municipalities, and for-profit businesses"
  • This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell, with additional resources available from the publisher, or the forthcoming collection from YA authors titled Allies: Real Talk about Showing Up, Screwing Up, and Trying Again edited by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy, or for the younger set Sofia Valdez’s Big Project Book for Awesome Activists where “Sofia Valdez will take readers through more than 40 different activities that are all about activism, politics, and the governmental process”
  • What Is Black Lives Matter? by Lakita Wilson, which is part of the New York Times bestselling series
  • Intersectionallies: We Make Room for All by Latoya Council, Carolyn Choi, and Chelsea Johnson
  • The Camas Public Library offers a number of resources:
    • https://www.cityofcamas.us/library/page/racial-equity-and-primary-sources
    • https://www.cityofcamas.us/library/page/pnw-black-history
    • https://www.cityofcamas.us/library/page/podcasts-and-race
    • https://www.cityofcamas.us/library/page/talking-kids-about-racism
  • On the topic of hair and hair discrimination, check out The Crown Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” and here is a handy illustrator’s series by Daisy Ein about drawing natural, textured, Afro hair
  • There are also TV/video specials you can watch as a family:
    • CNN produced a special in partnership with Sesame Street called Standing Up to Racism to facilitate conversations
    • PBS KIDS "Talk About Race & Racism"
    • Barbie and Nikki have created a "vlog" episode for kids to discuss racism
    • Nickelodeon has produced a special Kids, Race, and Unity hosted by Alicia Keys
    • Look out for the Disney Junior show Rise Up, Sing Out coming out in Fall 2021
    • We the People from Netflix to "learn the basics of rights and citizenship with upbeat songs"
  • These visuals of equality vs equity and beyond (the first depicting an apple tree credited to Tony Ruth and published in the Design in Tech Report by John Maeda and the second from the Center for Story-Based Strategy depicting people watching a baseball game) are a place to start to talking about equity and inclusion, but it is also important to read some critiques, for instance here from Richard Leong, here from Paul Kuttner, and here from Maddox Pennington, and keep in mind those points discussing these graphics as a family, as this subject is complex:
    
    
    
    (Click the image to expand in another tab.)
  • For older readers, or to prepare for family discussions:
    • A Young People’s History of the United States: Columbus to the War on Terror by Howard Zinn (also see the Zinn Education Project website) and A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki (a teacher’s guide is available at the link)
    • Stamped (for teens) or Stamped (for Kids) based on Stamped from the Beginning by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, with additional resources from NCTE, from Hachette, and also from Hachette
    • An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, based on her original edition, with additional resources available from the publisher, and Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition by Anton Treuer
    • Dreams from Many Rivers: A Hispanic History of the United States Told in Poems by Margarita Engle
    • Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture, & Identity by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi
• On the topic of LGBTQIA+ (in addition to information from Learning for Justice and Kids Book About):
  • A description of the acronym and some history, videos for allies, and resource lists from the Buffer article "50+ Resources For LGBTQIA Allies"
  • NPR's Guide To Gender Identity Terms, created with help from GLAAD
  • Talking to kids about pronouns and identity from the CBC, from Parent Magazine, definitions from the LGBTQ Life Center, and tips for introducing the concept of pronouns from Teaching Outside the Binary, as well as how to model inclusive pronoun use from Learning for Justice
  • The Trevor Project, including their resource guide to being an ally
  • PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
  • GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Network, including their queer and trans wellness resources and other resources
  • GLSEN, an education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students
  • Resources from the Point Foundation
  • Resources from Advocates for Youth
  • ACLU LGBTQ Youth
  • Family Acceptance Project from San Francisco State University
  • Two picture books for younger readers Sewing the Rainbow: The Story of Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag by Gayle E. Pitman and It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn. Or for older readers, or to prepare for family discussions: A Queer History of the United States for Young People adapted by Richie Chevat, The Book of Pride: LGBTQ Heroes Who Changed the World by Mason Funk, and Queer Heroes: Meet 53 LGBTQ Heroes from Past and Present! by Arabelle Sicardi
  • The Camas Public Library also gathered a booklist for Pride Month (it includes something for all ages, from picture books to adult nonfiction and memoirs https://camas.chilifresh.com/booklist/q11eg
• On the topic of disability and neurodiversity (in addition to information from Learning for Justice and Kids Book About):
  
  • This article from Huffington Post "How To Talk To Your Kid About Disabilities"
  • This helpful article about why terminology matters "Why 'Special Needs' is Not Helpful"
  • An interview and picture book recommendation (What Happened to You?) for disabled and non-disabled children about questions and curiosity and setting boundaries
  • The book I Am Not a Label: 34 Disabled Artists, Thinkers, Athletes and Activists From Past and Present and a Q&A here
  • The book We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch and Anne McGuire, and their interview with the Disability Visibility Project here
  • The Disability Visibility Project that produces original work and shares/amplifies other's work in the area of disability media and culture; there is also a book for adult readers and an adapted book for young adults
  • The book Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau
  • Understood and their articles like "Neurodiversity: What you need to know"
  • SBSK "Normalizing the Diversity of the Human Condition" (which grew out of Special Books by Special Kids)
  • LittleLobbyists.org is a group working to "protect and expand the rights of children who have complex medical needs and disabilities through advocacy, education, and outreach."
  • Autistic Self Advocacy Network
  • Autistic Inclusive Meets
  • Washington State Resources for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities
  • Curriculum from the makers of the Crip Camp Netflix documentary "about the disability rights movement, power, ableism, and disability justice"
• On the topic of allergies (because lack of safe options when it comes to rewards, class parties, and classroom activities can often make allergy students or students with celiac disease feel othered as a result):
  • This set of resources from FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) about allergies in the classroom including a downloadable poster "My Classmate Has a Food Allergy. What Can I Do to Help?"
  • Non-food rewards for children from Kids with Food Allergies and from FARE
  • From FARE "Avoiding Cross-Contact" or Cross-Contamination and a handwashing poster reminder
  • This set of resources from FARE for families
  • Allergic Living
  • The Gluten Intolerance Group and Generation GF (geared toward kids and teens), Beyond Celiac, and the Celiac Disease Foundation
  • Books for kids about allergies from Barnes & Noble, from Food Free Fun, and from Library Mom

As we all learn and grow together, please reach out and share resources that you've found valuable and we may link to them here!