Anti-Bias Anti-Racisim (ABAR)
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District
Anti-Bias Antiracism (ABAR) Council
Goal Statement
2020-21
The Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District is committed to recognizing, addressing, and eradicating all forms of racism from our school systems. This includes curricula, pedagogy, policies, practices, and programs at the school and system levels, all of which impact the student experience in school. Our specific focus on antiracism in MMUUSD is intentional, as we aim to empower our students with the critical thinking skills and equity literacy needed to be anti-bias and antiracist global citizens. While BIPOC are members of the MMUUSD ABAR Council, we recognize that a few voices does not imply an all-encompassing BIPOC perspective, and that it will be important for MMUUSD to continue our efforts to diversify our faculty and staff. Meanwhile, the ABAR Council makeup is reflective of the current faculty and staff demographics across the district.
We recognize that in order to ensure all students, staff, and the broader community are included, reflected, and affirmed in all MMUUSD spaces, in curriculum, and in community with others, we need to continue our individual and institutional examinations of racism, bias, and structural inequity embedded across systems. This multi-year commitment will require an assessment of current realities, visioning forward, and a significant amount of accountability along the way. The MMUUSD ABAR Council is committed, and up for the challenge.
Toward these ends, year one of the MMUUSD Anti-Bias Anti-Racist Council’s goals include:
To revisit the foundational work around identity and implicit bias that many have been engaged with, and to get others up to speed.
To conduct equity audits to self-assess our current practices through an equity lens with specific focus on representation and inclusion in literature, curricula, terminology, inclusive practices, culturally sustaining pedagogies, physical spaces, and school culture.
To work with equity specialists throughout the year, build our internal capacity to facilitate and sustain antiracism work, and bring the learning back to our schools through a ‘train the facilitator’ model.
To synthesize the baseline data we collect in year one and begin to develop a multi-year Equity Action Plan.
Information for Families of PreK and Elementary School Students:
“They’re Not Too Young to Talk about Race” Infographic from The Children’s Community School, Philadelphia
Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup
"20 Picture Books for 2020: Readings to Embrace Race, Provide Solace & Do Good" from EmbraceRace (EmbraceRace also has many additional resources on their website.)
“30 Books To Help You Talk to Your Kids about Racism” by Alex Mlynek in Today’s Parent (April 18, 2020)
“Talking Race with Young Children” from NPR
Information for Families of Middle and High School Students:
“Books About Racism and Social Justice” from Common Sense Media
“Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice” from Learning for Justice
“Talking with White Kids about Race and Racism” from Safe Space Radio
National Museum of African American History and Culture: The Talking About Race web portal helps people explore issues of race, racism and racial identity.
For Parents/Caregivers:
“Race and Ethnicity” from Learning for Justice
“How You Can Be An Ally in the Fight for Racial Justice” by Deray Mckesson from TED (January 11, 2018)
“How to Talk to Kids about Racism: An Age-by-Age Guide” from Today’s Parent
OTHER RESOURCES
Clemmons Family Farm: Located in Charlotte, Vermont, the Clemmons Family Farm is “one of the largest African-American-owned historic farms in Vermont today.” Facebook page
Education Justice Coalition of Vermont: Resource Page
Peace & Justice Center: Many of the Peace & Justice Center’s learning opportunities are free. Community Calendar