Heads Up for Inclusion

Wishing out Amigos and all students, teachers, and other school staff a wonderful school year!

With a new school year starting, it is incredibly important for kids to feel comfortable in their environment. Modeling and encouraging inclusion and healthy relationships builds self-esteem, positive mental health and stronger communities.

How to foster intersectionality and inclusion in youngsters - Abilities Canada - Abilities Magazine Canada is a nation that prides itself on our progressive nature and willingness to listen to all sides of any discussion. A country that has been in the top 15 freest countries on earth and rated 2nd best country to live in for 2023, we even ranked 1st in 2021, but those achievements don’t exclude...

International youth day was established in 1999 as a day to acknowledge the power of youth, as future leaders, to create change in their community and throughout the world.

https://www.wincalendar.com/ca/International-Youth-Day

Alt. Text: A crowd of young people on an orange background. White and blue circles and lines surround the words "International Youth Day 12 August"

Indigenous peoples inhabit all areas of the world, accounting for the use of 22% of the earth's surface. Even so, they struggle to adapt to the changing cultures around them, and regularly have their rights violated.

https://www.unesco.org/en/international-day-worlds-indigenous-peoples

August 1st marks the day in 1834, that the Emancipation Act of 1833 officially came into effect, ending slavery in the British empire.

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/emancipation-day.html

International day of Friendship is a day to build connections between people and cultures, bridging gaps, and creating understanding. The day emphasizes the involvement of young people in community activities that promote cultural diversity and acceptance.

https://www.un.org/en/observances/friendship-day

Alt. Text: On an orange background, an image of four friends on a couch, encircled by white and orange flowers of various sizes. The words "International Day of Friendship" arch above the image in green font.

Today is Global Forgiveness Day; a day to "burry the hatchet". Forgiveness allows you to move forward, and grow yourself and your relationships.

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/forgiveness-day/

Alt. Text: Silhouette of two people walking away from a buried hatchet

Happy Canada Day! Today serves as a reminder of our country's progress, achievements, and shared vision for a better future. Beyond the celebrations, Canada Day also offers a moment of introspection, and its spirit is deeply intertwined with the values of peace, tolerance, and respect that define the Canadian identity.

https://www.cassa.ca/celebrating-canada-day-reflecting-on-the-significance-of-a-nations-journey/ #:~:text=The%20day%20serves%20as%20a,that%20define%20the%20Canadian%20identity.

Alt. Text: A map of Canada, created by Jennifer Adomeit, in which each province and territory is an aboriginal design of respective representative animals.

https://www.ottawalife.com/article/our-home-and-native-landscape/

In 2003, a group of Fleming students would set in motion what has become a 21-year tradition. Jax Blue, a Fleming student at the time would write a proclamation to city hall about hosting a pride parade, and much to their surprise it got the stamp of approval.

After getting approved, Jax would need to come up with the $1800 payment for the parade, however, the Peterborough community came together to donate and fundraise for the event.

The Peterborough community came out strong to support the first pride parade. Jax expected a turnout of 10-100 people and was shocked when over 400 people showed up to enjoy the parade.

Read more: https://flemingcollege.ca/news/fleming-students-helped-launch-peterboroughs-first-pride-parade/

Canada is incredibly rich and diverse in culture. It's diversity is a strength that we can take today to celebrate! Find out more: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada/multiculturalism-day.html

Alt. Text: Cartoon group of seven people, all of different ethnicities. Above them, a banner reads "Canadian Multiculturalism Day".

It's deafblind awareness week! Did you know people who are legally deaf, blind and deafblind may still be able to hear and see?

https://www.sense.org.uk/deafblind-awareness-week/ #:~:text=24%20June%20%E2%80%93%2030%20June,of%20people%20who%20are%20deafblind.

Want to know more about the meaning behind different flags?

Bisexual
The Bisexual flag has a broad magenta stripe to represent same-gender attraction, a blue strip along the bottom for opposite gender attraction, and a narrow lavender band representing the attraction of both genders

Pansexual
The Pansexual flag is made up of 3 colors, Pink, Yellow and Blue. The pink represents the sexual attraction to women, the blue represents the sexual attraction towards men, and then the yellow symbolizes the sexual attraction towards those that are non-binary.

Asexual
The Asexual flag is made up for 4 different stripes, all in equal size. The Black represents asexuality, the grey symbolizes everything in between sexual and asexual, the white stripe represents sexuality, and finally the purple stripe means community.

Transgender
The Transgender flag is made up of five different stripes. The baby blue represents males, while the pink symbolizes females, and finally the white stands for those that are transitioning, those that are gender neutral or without a gender, and those who are intersex.

To learn more about these and other pride flags visit https://outrightinternational.org/insights/flags-lgbtiq-community

June 20th is World Refugee day. A day to honour and aid those who have been forced to flee for their safety.

https://www.unhcr.org/world-refugee-day

Alt. Text: Blue silhouette figures walking across the top of a globe. Above are the words "World Refugee Day June 20"

June 19th is recognized by the United Nations as World Sickle Cell Day. Sickle cell diseases are a group of illnesses passed down through genetics which cause red blood cells to stiffen and bend, often getting caught in the veins, which blocks oxygen flow and causes severe pain. Those with a sickle cell disease are at higher risk of stroke and blindness, among other issues.

https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/wscd/

During Pride Month, Heads Up for Inclusion would like to highlight some local organizations with an LGBTQ2+ focus

Sport a Rainbow: An organization centered around creating inclusion, with a focus on the sport environment.
https://sportarainbow.ca/

Peterborough Pride: An organization that celebrates everything pride with a Peterborough focus and lens.
https://peterboroughpride.ca/

Today is World Blood Donor Day. Celebrate by thanking those who have given, or book an appointment with Canadian Blood Services - Ontario to give blood, yourself. Blood is always needed to help heal and save lives.
https://www.blood.ca/en

International Albinism day began 10 years ago. Albinism is a lack of pigment in the skin hair and eyes, genetically inherited when both parents carry the gene.
It is linked to visual impairments and susceptibility to cancer.

https://www.un.org/en/observances/albinism-day

Every Friday in June, HUI will be sharing info about Pride month. This week, lets start at the beginning:

Le***an, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots.

In 1969, the New York City police raided Stonewall Inn; a gay club. During this raid the police roughly removed employees and patrons from the bar. This raid would spark a 6 day-long protest including violent clashes with law enforcement.
The Stonewall Riots would be a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States of America.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Stonewall-riots

Tourette's is a hereditary neurological condition, that affects 1% of people. It is marked by involuntary sounds or movements, called tics, and often coexists with diagnoses of ADHD and OCD.

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/tourettes-awareness-day-2024/

Alt. Text: A globe being held in two hands, with a turquoise ribbon, and the words "Tourette's Awareness Day June 7th" laid overtop.

Heads Up for Inclusion wishes everyone a happy Pride month.

Today is Red Shirt Day. It's not just about wearing red; it's about making a commitment to removing barriers in your community.

https://redshirtday.org/

Alt. Text: The image is designed as the front of a shirt, which reads "Accessibility Inclusion Equity". Above the neck line, reads "Red Shirt Day"

Happy National Accessibility Week! This year's theme is Accessibility and Inclusion for All. We celebrate the contributions and leadership of persons with disabilities in Canada,
the work of those removing barriers, and the continued efforts to improve accessibility and inclusion in Canada.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/national-accessability-week.html

Alt. Text: Various accessibility symbols, including auditory, braille, and wheelchair accessibility, on a light blue background.

Schizophrenia impacts the brain, causing difficulty with hallucinations, delusions, thought and speech. People with schizophrenia have a hard time participating in work, school and relationships, and can lose their independence. The right supports can improve quality of life for someone with schizophrenia. Learn how you can help:
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/current-events/may-24-is-world-schizophrenia-day-heres-how-you-can-show-support/

Alt. Text: On a two-tone red background is a black profile silhouette, overlaid with a monochrome red knot. Around the silhouette are the words "Schizophrenia Awareness Day"

"Three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension." Encouraging dialogue between cultures makes for a richer, more diverse and understanding global community.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/cultural-diversity-day

Alt. Text: The words "World Day for Cultural Diversity" can be read on a white background. Below are several cartoon hands, with various skin tones, raised in a fist to signify solidarity and unity.

Started in 2021, the Asian Gold Ribbon campaign sought to raise awareness and funds in solidarity against anti-Asian racism. May 20th has been designated Asian Gold Ribbon Day, in correspondence with Asian Heritage Month.
“The AGR gold is used to reclaim the colour yellow that has been used historically to denigrate and disparage the Asian race... and in turn become a symbol of celebrating Asian heritage and culture.” - Gina Wong, founder of the Asian Gold Ribbon Campaign (via Athabasca University: https://www.athabascau.ca/news/in-our-communities/asian-gold-ribbon-campaign-2022)

Alt. Text: A gold bird, encircled by a gold ribbon. The words "Asian Gold Ribbon Day" are written in black on a gold banner above. A second gold banner stretches across the bottom of the image, with the Heads Up for Inclusion logo on it.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia to shed light on the violence and discrimination exhibited towards people within the LGBTQ2S+ community.

"17 May was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder." - may17.org

https://may17.org/about/

"Digital accessibility refers to the ability of people with disabilities/impairments to independently consume and/or interact with digital (e.g., web, mobile) applications and content." - GAAD

https://accessibility.day/ #:~:text=Thursday%2C%20May%2016%2C%202024%2C,Billion%20people%20with%20disabilities%2Fimpairments.

What is the most accessible digital application interacted with, recently?

Alt. Text: A grayscale globe with an orange human figure. The words "Global Accessibility Awareness Day surround in black and white font, on an orange background.

email [email protected] to register

To all the mothers - birth mothers, foster mothers, adoptive mothers, step-mothers, grandmothers, and all other mothers - thank you for being mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

Alt. Text: On a cream coloured background, white flowers with green stems and leaves encircle the words "Happy Mother's Day", which is written in green font.

Today is world Red Cross Day! Give with joy!

https://www.oliveboard.in/blog/world-red-cross-and-red-crescent-day-2024/ #:~:text=The%20theme%20designated%20for%20World,itself%20is%20a%20rewarding%20outcome.