Our JEDI Mission:
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is woven throughout our programs
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont is committed to creating and cultivating a safe environment where all individuals feel respected and valued equally. We - BBBSVT staff, board and volunteers - are committed to a nondiscriminatory and anti-racist approach and are committed to dismantling any inequities within our policies, systems, programs and services.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) is an integral part of our values and mission. We recognize, affirm, and celebrate the diverse backgrounds, lives, and experiences of all our stakeholders, including youth, families, donors, volunteers, and staff. We ensure the opportunity for all voices and perspectives to be heard and honored. In the workplace, we foster an environment where all people can be their best selves. We affirm that every person [regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ideology, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation, marital or veteran status] has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
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We are proud to share this exciting news! The Starbucks Foundation has awarded a $1M grant to
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA). Our National Office first partnered with The Starbucks Foundation in 2018 through the 10,000 Connections initiative. It was a great introduction and opportunity to showcase the impact of our mentoring program. Three years later, BBBSA was selected by The Starbucks Foundation to help support their efforts to advance racial and social equity for BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) youth across the country.
This is part of The Starbucks Foundation's commitment to advance opportunity for all, and funding will help BBBSA continue efforts to provide JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) training in local communities throughout the country. The investment is part of a three-pronged strategy to promote resilience, and advance racial and social equity:
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Create social justice incident response units, Relationship Responders, to help communities negatively impacted by racism, brutality, and other injustices recover and heal.
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Provide JEDI and Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) training to frontline Big Brothers Big Sisters staff and Bigs on a national scale.
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Sub-grants will be awarded to local BBBS agencies to support equity in local communities that Big Brothers Big Sisters and Starbucks serve together.
We thank our local Starbucks partners for their continued support of our mentoring programs. For more information about our commitment to JEDI visit our website.
Bigger Together,
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont
RACE & RACISM RESOURCE LIST:
ARTICLES:
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Talking to Young Children about Racism: Aya de Leon
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Talking to Kids about Black Lives Matter (lots of good resources at the end of this one)
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Talking with Children about the Guiding Principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement
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Your Kids Aren’t too Young to Talk about Race by Pretty Good Design
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100 things to say to your child to advance racial justice by Raising Race Conscious Children
EVENTS/WORKSHOPS/VIDEOS
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Dr. Kira Banks: Talking to your kids about Racism video series
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Sesame Street Town Hall - read letter below before watching.
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An Open Letter regarding the CNN Sesame Street Town Hall on Racism by Marcella Runell Hall and Rani Varghese
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"How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools
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Talking Race and Kids webinars from EmbraceRace
BOOKS FOR KIDS
(if you are going to purchase books, please consider buying from these Black-owned bookstores)
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Embrace Race list: Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism & Resistance
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The Conscious Kids List: 26 Children’s Books to Support Conversations about Race & Racism
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Books that Inspire Resilience in Kids of Color from EmbraceRace
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Teach White Children and Teens how to Undo Racism from Charis Books
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Diverse and Inclusive books to support nature based learning from Wonderkin
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No White Saviors: Books for Littles list focused on powerful Black Women
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Books about Racial Power Inequity from Books for Littles
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Circumventing White Fragility with Adorable Kids Books: Bharat Books (books about South Asian families and kids) from Books For Littles
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Books by Zetta Elliot
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This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewel (For people of all ages)
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Rad American History A- Z by Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl
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BOOKS FOR ADULTS
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#SayHerName Booklist from Charis Books
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Booklist for White Readers
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AntiRacist Reading List
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More recommended books:
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Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
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So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo
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Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
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How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
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White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD
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We Live for the We by Dani McClain
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Raising White Kids by Jennifer Harvey
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My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
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Unapologetic by Charlene Carruthers
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How We Show Up by Mia Birdsong
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Don’t Leave your Friends Behind by China MArtens and Victoria Law
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Revolutionary Mothering by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, China Martens, and Mai’a Williams
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Practice Showing Up: A guidebook for White People Working for Racial Justice by Jardana Peacock
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How Latinx People Can Fight Anti-Black Racism in Our Own Culture - Teen Vogue
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Starting to Talk about Race with your Kids: article and children’s books recommendations
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Collection of Social Justice resources from the Children’s Community School
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Resources from NPR: Talking Race with Young Children
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AntiRacist Parenting during COVID-19 and Beyond Jardana Peacock and Rachel Parsons
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No, We Won’t Calm Down—Tone Policing Is Just Another Way to Protect Privilege by Robot Hugs
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Why I Don’t Talk About Race with White People by John Metta
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What I Told My White Friend When He Asked for My Black Opinion on White Privilege by Lori Lakin Hutcherson
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Welcome to the Anti-Racism Movement—Here’s What You’ve Missed by Ijeoma Oluo
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You Can Have a Black Friend, Partner, or Child and Still Be Racist
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Accomplices Not Allies: Abolishing The Ally Industrial Complex
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Declarations of Whiteness: The Non-Performativity of Anti-Racism [Sara Ahmed]
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You Have an Opinion Relating to a Discussion about Race [Flow Chart and Guide]
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OTHER RESOURCES
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VERY COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ANTIRACISM RESOURCES from Suzana Loza
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Curriculum from Teaching for Change (helpful for Homeschooling)
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Early Childhood Resources from Teaching for Change
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‘Raising White Kids’ Author on How White Parents can Talk About Race - NPR
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How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids by Common Sense Media
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The Conscious Kid - Critical Conversations
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Alphabet Rockers - radical hip hop music for kids
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unlocking us podcast with Brene Brown and Dr. Kendi
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Talking with Children About Race Resource List from MAEC
ACTION LISTS
All this reading and talking is excellent, and please follow up by taking action!
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Opportunities for White People in the Fight for Racial Justice
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Resources for Accountability and Actions for Black Lives (including places to donate)
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How White People Can Support The Fight Against Police Brutality
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A guide for calling in white folks around “violence” and property destruction narratives (SURJ)
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10 Ways Non-Black Asians Can Support Black Power & Black Liberation