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Progressive education for preschoolers
People involved with Pride Foundation are often leaders in many areas of their community. Guest blogger Derek Stanley and his partner are longtime Pride Foundation donors and volunteers. Derek recently founded Seattle’s Progressive Preschool and shares his inspiration for starting this institution.
In May of 2009, Governor Gregoire signed the “everything but marriage” bill, expanding state-level rights to same-sex couples in Washington to match those of their straight peers. Among the guests at the signing event (in addition to Audrey Haberman, Pride Foundation’s Executive Director) was my son’s entire preschool class. A parent from the preschool, State Representative Jamie Pedersen, was actually the prime sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives.
The children were graciously invited by the Governor to stand around her for the actual signing. She explained to them that this bill was important so that folks from all over knew that in Washington, we think all families are important. It was a wonderful, simple way to explain the need for this bill to these young children.
After my child’s teacher was informed the next day that her field trip choice was too political, policies were drafted and it became clear that the school would be taking a different approach to similar events. I wondered how it was that a few families could so effortlessly dismantle good, progressive curriculum. I wondered how my child’s teacher could continue to emphasize anti-bias education without the full cooperation of enrolled families.
The seed of an idea took root that day. In mid-September, that seed will germinate with the launch of classes at Seattle’s Progressive Preschool. The school pursues an ambitious and critical mission and vision:
to provide a quality preschool curriculum that emphasizes social and environmental awareness as a building block for change. SPP envisions alumni families who champion a fair and just world and who inspire the communities around them.
One of the cornerstones of the school’s philosophy is the importance of early exposure to anti-bias education. In fact, that facet appealed strongly to Eric Pedersen and his partner Jamie, the House prime sponsor of the “everything but marriage” bill. Their oldest son is now enrolled at SPP and they hope that their other three boys will follow. As Jamie says, “we were looking for a preschool that would reinforce the values that we teach in our own home, particularly that all families should be celebrated, regardless of their shape, color, or gender. We are thrilled to be a part of this new community.”
Early childhood exposure to such a curriculum enriches not only the enrolled students, but all of us, by ensuring that children are encouraged to ask questions and seek to make things better in our society and with our planet. Children of a very young age have an inherent sense of what is fair and what is not. Waiting for high school or college to encourage such skills does students a disservice. Schools like SPP will strive to nurture that nascent ability and teach children how to apply it to the world around them. Generating active, thoughtful citizens should be at least one of the main goals of any educational program, starting with its youngest participants.
NOTE: Several spots for the 2010-2011 class remain. To register your child or for more information please visit: www.seattlesprogressivepreschool.org .
Garden Party Celebrates Pride Foundation’s 25th Anniversary
Guest blogger Michael Bonacci is Pride Foundation’s Community Organizer for the Northwest Washington Region.
It was one of those magical Pride Foundation moments where generous, caring and engaged people were gathered to learn about our work, share thoughts about where our community has been and where we would like it to go.
Earlier this month, longtime Pride Foundation supporters Bob Teichman, a member of the Northwest WA Region’s Steering Committee and his partner John Marsh hosted a lavish garden party and fundraising event at their hillside home in Tulalip, WA.
Upon arriving, guests were greeted by the Celtic harp music. Beside the spectacular views of Camano and Whidby Islands, a banquet table of spanikopita, brie with chutney, stuffed mushroom caps, chicken satay and quesadillas was catered by Pave Catering, a women-owned and operated business in Everett, WA. Meg, Dee and Brian, friends of John and Bob, did a remarkable job serving the food and beverages. Following a spirited game of Pride Foundation trivia, guests were treated to an array of wonderful desserts.
I spoke briefly about Pride Foundation’s history, and the guests had many questions about the scholarship and grant programs. Scott Bertanni from Evergreen AIDS Foundation, a multiple grant recipient, spoke about his organization’s expansion into Snohomish County, and Norm Frampton gave a brief recap of the grants awarded to two Snohomish groups, GLOBE and SnoGLOBE Equality Alliance. David Bricka, Steering Committee volunteer, offered a reflection on what it means to be a scholarship committee volunteer, and how honored he has been to hear the stories of these scholars as they pursue their educational goals.
Pride Foundation wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to Bob and John for opening their hillside home and remarkable gardens to Pride Foundation supporters. We are also especially thankful for the generous donations that will go towards funding scholarship, grant and community sponsorship programs in the Northwest WA Region.
25th Anniversary @ SAAM – TICKETS
Join us for fine art, fabulous fare and great friends at Seattle Asian Art Museum as we celebrate 25 years of Pride Foundation and the future of LGBTQ equality!October 5, 2010
5:30-8:30pm
Seattle Asian Art Museum
1400 East Prospect Street (Volunteer Park)
Seattle, WA 98112
$25.00 per person
Please note: this is a 21 and older event.
ONLINE TICKET SALES HAVE CLOSED.
TO ATTEND THE EVENT CONTACT:
Suzanne at 206.323.3318 ext. 105
To learn more about Pride Foundation’s 25th Anniversary and to share your Pride Foundation story, please visit www.iampridefoundation.org
Idaho National Laboratory embraces diversity
Guest Blogger Theron McGriff is a member of Pride Foundation’s Five-State Steering Committee and an employee of Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which last week announced that couples who work for INL will soon receive the same dental and medical benefits as married couples.The gay and lesbian employees of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have been working with our companies’ leadership for several years to make our work environments more inclusive, understanding and accepting. We are beyond excited to learn of the changes in the benefit package! Working with organizations like Pride Foundation and others, have inspired me and my coworkers to continue the dialogue with our company; even in the early phases when we thought no one was listening. Fellow members of the Pride Foundation have been supportive and helped by providing talking points, national statistics and other information on how providing inclusive benefits can have far reaching impacts; all of which helped us show our company leaders that creating an inclusive work environment is an effective tool in attracting and retaining the world’s brightest from the scientific and engineering community as well as having life changing impacts to the glbt families here in at the INL. Our company has also formed an Inclusion Strategy Team that will continue to work with all employees and serve as a voice to leadership as we continue to make INL an environment that celebrates all diversities! We congratulate our leadership for valuing all employees!
Mujeres Diversas (Diverse Women) Conference
Title: Sponsoring: Mujeres Diversas (Diverse Women) ConferenceLocation: Casa Latina – Seattle, WA
Link out: Click here
Description: Pride Foundation is pleased to be supporting Mujeres Diversas (Diverse Women) one-day conference. A project of Entre Hermanos, the mission of Mujeres Diversas is to promote the health and well being of the Latina lesbian and bisexual community.
Conference topics include:
• Alcohol Abuse
• Hispanic women and HIV
• LGBT Families
• Domestic Violence
• Breast Health
This event is intended to serve immigrant Latina lesbian and bisexual women and friends, and will be conducted in Spanish with some English translation.
For registration information please email [email protected]
Start Time: 9:30
Date: 2010-09-12
End Time: 15:00
Sponsoring: Fundraiser for Scotty Koeller
Title: Sponsoring: Fundraiser for Scotty KoellerLocation: Guido’s Restaurant – 549 W. International Road, Anchorage, AK
Link out: Click here
Description: Support Scotty Koeller (aka Daphne Do All LaChores) who lost his equipment when the Pride/4th of July float was set on fire. Each ticket earns you a plate of spaghetti, salad and a helping of good karma.
Tickets can be purchased at the GLCCA (336 East 6th) where cash and check donations will also be accepted.
Contact [email protected] for tickets and more info, or call Paula at 907-250-1062
Start Time: 13:00
Date: 2010-08-14
End Time: 17:00
Donor: Inspired by Matthew Shepard
Guest blogger Lindsey Gregerson is a Pride Foundation donor that was inspired to share her story after attending the Seattle Children’s Theatre’s production of The Laramie Project (a project supported by Pride Foundation).
I started donating to Pride Foundation because I wanted to make sure that our community’s projects continued to flourish and connect with younger generations of LGBT people and allies. Last night, at the opening of The Laramie Project I got to see first hand the impact of my support.
In case you don’t know, The Laramie Project is the story of Matthew Shepard, a gay twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was kidnapped, beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. The play focuses on the townspeople of Laramie and how the death of Matthew and the surrounding media attention affected their community. The dialogue is taken from real interviews and recording with a wide range of townsfolk including the doctor who cared for both Matthew and one of his murderers, Matthew’s friends, the officer that first responded at the fence that he was bound to and other everyday people. A powerful scene included a statement by Matthew’s father at the sentencing hearing of one of the accused.
Though Matthew was murdered more than decade ago, the story still resonates today as we know we have not eliminated homophobia, nor do I believe that we can ever rest on the laurels that our community activists have helped to secure to date. It’s a powerful reminder of how we must continue to share this story with each other and to young people.
One of set pieces in the play was a fence placed in the background of the stage. That fence represented the place where a young man, preparing for a career in activism, was beaten and left for 18 hours in the Wyoming cold to die. It was an image I will not soon forget.
The first responder was quoted as saying, “…the only part of his face that was not covered in blood was where tears had fallen.”
Thank you to everyone at SCT for their brave and mature performances. Thank you to Pride Foundation for keeping us alive, awake and aware with your support of important projects like this one.
The Laramie Project runs through to July 31st at the Charlotte Martin Theatre in Seattle. Visit www.sct.org for more info.
Pride Foundation’s 25th Anniversary in Alaska
Title: Pride Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Alaska CelebrationLocation: Bernie’s Bungalow & Lounge Patio 626 D Street (at 7th Ave) Anchorage, AK 99501
Link out: Click here
Description: Join us for a fun evening in celebration of Alaska’s LGBT community and 25 years of Pride Foundation!
Appetizers & beverages will be served
This is a 21 and older event.
Let us know you will be joining us! To RSVP or for more information please reach [email protected]
To learn more about Pride Foundation and its 25th Anniversary please visit www.iampridefoundation.org
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2010-08-18
End Time: 19:30
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