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ABOUT THIS GROUP
25/26 School year
Mission:
To provide a supportive and safe community for caregivers to identify and share the needs of their child(ren), and access resources to help provide their child(ren) with an inclusive and equitable education and life experience.
Affinity Space Summary:
A community space for caregivers whose children fall within the scope of having a learning difference (including academic or behavioral), with or without the adage of a formalized IEP/504 through the school. Fostering a mindset of drawing larger circles around caregivers, students, and staff to help create truly inclusive spaces. The affinity space is utilized to:
Empower caregivers of diverse learners to openly discuss challenges, opportunities, and systemic inequities inhibiting their children’s growth, and overall familial belonging at CWC, in the greater community, and/or in their home life.
Champion and exchange valuable insights to celebrate successes, however small, without fear of judgment or misunderstanding.
Provide practical and supportive tips for children’s learning needs, share resources, and empathize with unique perspectives.
Advocate for spaces that provide students with the tools, accommodations, and/or modifications needed as equitable stepping stones to accomplish unlimited possibilities.
Guiding Group Principals:
We ask that all caregivers who attend, hold to the below practices in order to create a safe place to connect, gain a sense of community, and obtain tools to better support our children:
We acknowledge that everyone identifies differently. There are terms or labels like disability, neurodivergent, special needs, learning differences, and many more, that are immersed in our country’s language. Some caregivers feel comfortable with all these terms or just one or two of these terms. Some caregivers would like to see changes to these words that feel more inclusive but use the words to communicate to the wider world at this time. Some caregivers are very uncomfortable with these terms, and would like to work toward advocating broader changes and use language or terms that feel more comfortable to them. This is a very complicated and individualized decision. We ask that in this group all caregivers assume best intent and honor each other’s decisions in this matter with kindness. Please allow people to identify as works for them. However, we ask that no words be used that are derogatory and have systematically been used to create false narratives and prejudice.
We follow these Guiding Principles while in the affinity space…
Confidentiality: Keep other people’s stories private and safe. (What is shared in this space is personal).
Respect the use of the talking piece: Only those holding it talk. No interrupting.
Listen without judgment. (In this space we refrain from giving advice or making comments about someone else’s experience or thoughts. We also hold space for silence. No one is required to speak at the affinity groups. Sometimes people need to cry or just be silent. In this space we ask all caregivers to give each other that space and time.)
Respect the time allotted so all have the ability to participate.
Keep the space free from distractions and interruptions. (Please silence the phone. If you need to use your phone please step out of the room).
DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND FACILITATOR CONTACT INFORMATION
FOR 25/26 SCHOOL YEAR:
Locations and Parking: All Affinity Caregiver Group meetings (for caregivers only) will be held in the Adat Ari El Russell Hall room. We apologize, there is no allowed parking on campus for this event. Please park on one of the neighboring streets. Show your CWC walking pass at the Adat Ari El parking lot gate. Proceed through the front entrance to Adat Ari El and all the way back to the CWC school's black gate. The Russell Hall room is to the right of the black gate. A sign will be posted on the door to the room.
Dates and Times: Most Affinity Caregiver Group meetings are during the third week of each month from 9:00am to 10:30am. However, zoom meetings and other get-togethers will be held on various days and times.
Please see all currently planned meetings listed down below for dates, times, and locations of each gathering. Additional meetings with speakers will be planned. Individual calendar invites will go out to all on our email list. If you are not currently on our email list, and would like to be, please send us your email- see below for our contact information.
Below are the meetings days and times for the 25/26 school year. RSVPs are greatly appreciated but not necessary. Caregivers are encouraged to attend as many or as few groups as works with their schedule, whether they attend one meeting or every month. We will have coffee, water, and light snacks available.
October 20, 2025: In Person Affinity Caregiver Group on Monday the 20th from 9:00am to 10:30am in Russell Hall.
November 17, 2025: In Person Affinity Caregiver Group on Monday the17th from 9:00am to 10:30am in Russell Hall.
December 2025: No Gathering this month in honor of multiple holidays and winter break
January 17, 2026: In Peson Family Get-Together on Saturday, Jan 17th from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Bring your loved ones, your whole family- or part- whatever works for you. Location is Valley Village Park, 5000 Westpark Drive, North Hollywood 91601. We recommend bringing snacks, and a blanket to sit on, for your family. (In January, in place of a caregiver group meeting we are having a casual get-together outside of regular school hours. All are welcome to bring family and loved ones to come together in community. This will be a casual play date where you can get to know one another a little better, or just enjoy camaraderie and company.)
February 23, 2026: Online Zoom Drink and Chat Zoom (link will be provided closer to event) Evening Gathering on Monday, February 23rd, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm for caregivers. Come hang out with us on zoom and have a chance to connect with and meet caregivers. Bring a beverage of choice (water counts) and have some grown up time. You deserve it! *Unexpected appearances of children are to be expected.
March 16, 2026: In Person Affinity Caregiver Group on Monday the16th from 9:00am to 10:30am in Russell Hall.
April 20, 2026: In Person Affinity Caregiver Group on Monday the 20th from 9:00am to 10:30am in Russell Hall.
May 18, 2026 (Last group of the school year): In Person Affinity Caregiver Group on Monday the18th from 9:00am to 10:30am in Russell Hall.
Caregiver Volunteer Facilitators: For further information, or to be added to the email list, feel reach out to one of the facilitators:
Anjure Johnson, anjurekai@gmail.com
Julie Picot, julieRpicot@gmail.com
RESOURCES
Below are links to two resource forms. One is to a calendar of events and the other is a spreadsheet full of resources related to learning differences. Each sheet lists information by subject matter (look to the bottom tabs) with website links when possible. For instance, IEP and 504, respite, OT, literacy, etc. As new resources are added they will also be emailed out to the group email list on a monthly basis. If you would like to be added to our group email list please reach out to one of the facilitators listed above:
Resource Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12SYfgmgyYgqSb1fy6tsTL7mn36EadqFy/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112161637813290785036&rtpof=true&sd=true
Resource Event Calendar: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rdoBEY7599NgJ0Mxq3rhtpvxMT4ppl5H/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112161637813290785036&rtpof=true&sd=true
A quick listen podcast episode by Understood.org "The ABC's of IEPs" discusses common questions and answers about IEP's and 504's
Our school also celebrates Inclusion during the month of October. Check out the school's
Inclusion Matters / Disability and Neurodiversity Awareness Month Page.
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