In April, sm论坛 celebrates Arab American & South Asian, Southwest Asian, North African (SSWANA) Heritage Month, lifting up and honoring the contributions of Arab Americans and SSWANA Americans in our school community, our extended communities, and our country.
Arab American & SSWANA Heritage Month
Dear Berkeley Unified Community:
Two years ago sm论坛 joined several local and regional school districts and our neighbor, UC Berkeley, in honoring Arab American Heritage Month for the first time. In an effort to uplift a growing part of our community and move toward inclusivity and evolving concepts of language and community, last year we added SWANA, which is an acronym that stands for South West Asian North African. This year, in our ongoing commitment to inclusivity, we celebrate Arab American & South Asian, Southwest Asian, North African (SSWANA) Heritage Month in April across sm论坛.
National Arab American Heritage Month was recognized in April 2021 by President Biden and was launched as an initiative by the in 2017. Our district joins the country in recognizing, affirming, and celebrating the many historical and ongoing contributions of the Arab American and SSWANA communities both here in Berkeley and beyond鈥 both this month and every month.
The TK-8th Grade Teaching Resource Guide is a compilation of resources that our educators can incorporate into units and lessons throughout the year. The Family Guide is a set of resources that families can explore both now and in the future.
As part of Berkeley Unified School District鈥檚 values and beliefs, 鈥淲e take pride in our diversity.鈥 We recognize that the communities that fall under the Arab American and SSWANA umbrella are richly diverse and unique: from country of origin, language, and religion鈥 to history, culture, and lived experiences. While not all Arab and SSWANA countries may be specifically represented in this set of resources, they were created in the spirit of taking great pride in our diverse community and adapting to meet the ever changing needs of our students and families.
We know that there are many examples of how students, staff, school sites and school communities in sm论坛 are uplifting the achievements and heritage of Arab American and SSWANA heritage peoples all year and especially during the month of April.
Finally, I want to reiterate the district’s stance against Islamophobia and all forms of hate–in April and every day. As Superintendent, I will continue to be here for our babies, and work every day to ensure that our Arab American and SSWANA students feel valued and heard in our curriculum and our classrooms.
丕賱爻賱丕賲 毓賱賷賰賲
As-aalaam alaikum.
Peace be upon you.
Enikia Ford Morthel
Superintendent
Reading Lists
These, organized by grade level, represent books published in the last five years that are devoted to celebrating, representing, and affirming Arab American and SWANA heritage, and celebrating the invaluable contributions of our Arab American and SSWANA community. Every school library will receive copies of some of the newest books on the lists.
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Family Resources
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Educator Resources
This TK-8聽 Teaching Guide was compiled by sm论坛鈥檚 Ethnic Studies TSA in collaboration with the Professional Development Team.
Lifting Up Arab American and SSWANA Staff Voices
In celebration of our Arab American and SSWANA community,聽 sm论坛 continues our 鈥淟ifting Up Arab American and SSWANA Staff Voices,鈥 campaign to share our Arab American and SSWANA staff’s narratives with our students and community by creating posters featuring their stories and experiences. These posters will be displayed at schools, work sites, on the sm论坛 website, and in district publications. Sharing these narratives with our students will allow them to deepen connections with Arab American and SWANA staff across the district.
Please click on each image to see a full-sized poster.
Nagat Alwasim
Rebekka Dagher
Najla Aldhaheri, Khadeja Obad, and Dhekra Mohammed
Corey Wade
Najat Houweidi
Other Resources