By Eliza PARTIKA

Glendale Unified School District board of education at its Jan. 16 board meeting recognized Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the contributions of Black students and community members.

As part of the recognitions, the board adopted Resolution No. 21, which recognized the rich culture, contributions and value of Black students and community members.

“We’re proud to have once again renewed this resolution, which will be on the agenda later this evening. The resolution includes a commitment to support the social, emotional and physical needs of all students to embrace historically underrepresented communities and intentionally work to eliminate bias in our curriculum, our classroom cultures and our relationships with our students, our parents and guardians and each other,” said board member Shant Sahakian.

Rebecca Mieliwocki, coordinator of Student Teaching and Learning at GUSD, said celebrating the stories and rich culture of diverse people not only gives insight into the past, but also informs the present and impacts the future.

“It’s important to know that Black history is American history, and that it’s a story [that celebrates the] struggle of perseverance, achievement and joy. And when we spotlight the work of Black heroes and their stories, accept the very complex truths about what it means to be an American and what it means to be Black in this nation, we help our students understand that the legacies created by Black Americans are shaped by fights for justice, for identity, for equality and understanding,” Mieliwocki said.

Beginning with the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15 and extending through Black History Month in February, students at Glendale Unified will participate in activities and lessons focused on Black history and culture, and the many Black and African American individuals who have contributed greatly to American history and to the community.

Mieliwocki discussed several programs started by GUSD to increase diverse education for students and staff. GUSD launched the “Together Initiative” with funding from an anti-bias grant awarded by the California Dept. of Education in December 2022. This initiative will involve district-wide anti bias training for teachers, and the district has already deployed experts to train teachers and staff. Other partnerships include the 306 curriculum, a digital learning module that teaches students the achievements made by Black leaders, trailblazers and communities.

“Cultural harmony and cultural humility are the pathways that we must achieve if we’re going to be an inclusive district where all learners can thrive,” Mieliwocki said.

On Jan. 15, Superintendent Dr. Darneika Watson attended an MLK breakfast where she spoke about her appreciation for the Glendale community’s willingness to include all students and the need to redouble efforts in regard to expressing kindness and inclusion, taking to heart the vision of Dr. King.

Hoover High School students Adriana Morgan and Caitlin Song then spoke about their People of Color Empowerment Club.

“This past summer we decided that we wanted to create a club in our schools that was more inclusive to other students from different cultural backgrounds so that they all had a place where they can show their culture and feel welcome. We will continue to strive for the empowerment of people of color and work to create opportunities for those kids,” Song said.

The pair plans to create a scholarship for students of color and will hold food and clothing drives throughout the year to raise money to fund other opportunities.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the teachers and community members who allow us – and encourage us – to forge our own path and better our careers,” said Morgan.

Resources about GUSD’s inclusive initiatives can be found on the district website www.gusd.net.