Advocacy
Ethnic Studies Community Advisory Committee
Representatives of BUSD AAPIs participated in the Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee, contributing many hours toward helping to form the set of recommendations for TK-12th grade ethnic studies. The proposal was presented to the Superintendent for consideration and brought forward to the Board of Supervisors for budget prioritization.
The proposal included teachers and staff training and curriculum on applying the core principles of ethnic studies. That is, to cultivate empathy, community actualization, cultural perpetuity, self-worth, self determination, and the holistic well-being of all participants, especially Native People/s and People of Color. Students objectives included to learn the breadth and depth of social issues in the United States and allows them to examine how activism and social movements can rectify inequality. Students would learn how supporting social justice drives change. Students would have curriculum that valued their own cultural identity while appreciating the differences around them. Ideally, these methodologies and learning would begin in elementary school and continue throughout high school and through interdisciplinary subjects like language arts and science and not just as a separate, solo ethnic studies course.
See our statement of recommendation sent to the Superintendent and presented to the School Board.
Supporting Renaming of Washington Elementary School
In the spring of 2022, BUSD parents and staff reached out to our group when it became apparent that the process of the renaming of Washington Elementary School were not being conducted in a fair and equitable manner and to the detriment to the AAPI community. Our group supported these concerns families and staff and addressed the issue directly with Superintendent Brent Stephens. The renaming process was eventually paused to address the concerns of these AAPI family and staffers. Read the letters here.
Letter sent January 13, 2022
Letter sent January 17, 2022
Letter to Superintendent & School Board referencing Anti- Asian American violence
A grassroots group of AAPI caregivers, staff, alumni, and students in Berkeley Unified formed in the spring of 2021 with a letter written to the Superintendent & School Board asking for action in response to the exponential rise in anti-Asian American violence, both locally and nationwide. The letter was signed by over 400 supporters in 3 days.