"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."
(Maya Angelou)
About Us:
We respect and value diverse life experiences and ensure that all stories are valued and respected. Equity and inclusion are interconnected in our work and critical to ensuring a sense of belonging for the people we serve through authentic relationship-building.
Community Engagement
YW Boston: Elevating Lives Conference
The 2022 YW Boston Elevating Lives Conference gathered over 150 leaders and professionals who focused on how organizations can respond promptly to the need for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) while also pacing this work to ensure lasting, systemic change.
TLC Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Kyle Amber Clark, co-facilitated a breakout session called "Dream Work Through Teamwork: Advancing DEI Work as Non-Managers."
WBJ Diversity Article
Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Kyle Amber Clark wrote an article for Worcester Business Journal for their Diversity and Equity issue, providing an important perspective on accessibility and intersectionality in the Deaf community
READ THE ARTICLE
Honoring Juneteenth
TLC celebrated together on the journey to understand, learn and embrace the past, present and future. In honor of Juneteenth, a recent recognized Federal holiday, the e&i office sponsored a trip for both staff and students of color to celebrate a day of freedom and liberation. Itinerary includes a meal at Tawakal Halal Cafe, and a trip to the Museum of African American History. Those in attendance included staff and students of color from Walden Community Services, Marie Philip School, and Walden School and TLC Interpreting Services.
Invisible Racism
Often people understand the term “racism” and may be able to define it however when we look at the system, some don’t realize how invisible racism exists. To dismantle systemic and structural racism requires a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders on individual and group work on an organizational level.
Presenter Kyle Amber Clark opens the webinar defining the meaning of invisible racism. Howard A. Rosenblum (NAD CEO) joins the panel to discuss the NAD Headquarters’ internal operations and what they’re doing to identify and address invisible racism; Melissa Draganac-Hawk (NAD Outgoing President) to share the NAD Board’s history of addressing racism and the 2020-2022 Priority “Dismantling Racism in the Deaf Community” priority; Jenny Buechner (NAD Incoming President) will join to highlight specific goals the NAD Board has to address racism and the NAD’s commitment.
Originally shared August 18, 2022 as part of NAD's The ‘Real Talk, Good Action’ webinar series.
TLC CEIO Kyle Amber Clark and School Counselor DeLasha Singleton hosted a critical conversation about the meaning of the decolonization of Thanksgiving. Instead of canceling holidays, we invite people to think about how they can recognize the day of ‘giving back,’ acknowledging the land where we reside, honor the food shared by the Native Americans, learn more about cultures through stories, and connect with our children through a culturally responsive paradigm. We can celebrate by sharing what the day meant for the Indigenous and Native Americans.
In Solidarity
A Message of Support for the LGTBQ+ Community
A statement following the shooting outside a LGTBQ Nightclub in Colorado Springs, Co. (November, 2022).
Justice for Minneapolis: A Statement from TLC Following the Derek Chauvin Trial Verdict
#StopAntiAsianHate: A Message from TLC Leadership
Equity & Inclusion Office’s Statement about January 6th, 2021 Insurrection at Capitol
Insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021: Resources for Critical Dialogues:
Our Racial Equity Plan
ASL Resources for Families:
Below is a collection of resources to help individuals learn more about fostering a culture of racial equity that is taught on every level and practiced in every way. Our list of links below includes a collection of articles, books, videos and other resources to support you. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but ever-evolving; We will continue to add resources as they are appropriately evaluated.
- I Have a Right to be a Child (ASL Stories)
- Something Happened in Our Town (ASL Stories)
- Transformative Deaf Education (ASL Stories)
- American Society For Deaf Children - Racial Justice Resources
- A is for Activist (ASL Stories)
Short Articles (for Parents)
- Black Father Answers Tough Questions From His Son
- Deaf BIPOC: Unpacking the Needs in the Community
- How do Families Talk to their Children About Racism?
- Teaching your kids not to “see” race is a terrible idea
- Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (In English and en Español)
- Supporting Positive Racial Identity Development in Black Children
- How to Explain Black-Led Protests to Kids and Teach Them to Become Activists, Too
- 7 Steps to Raising Inclusive Kids
- How to Talk Honestly with Kids About Racism
- Talking Tips for Black Parents Discussing the Riots
- Mental Health Resources for BIPOC
- Understanding Race and Privilege
- Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism (PBSKids)
Books (Ages 0-18):
Books (For Adults):
How to Be AntiRacist (Ibram X. Kendi)
So You Want to Talk About Race (Ijeoma Oluo)
White Fragility (Robin Diangelo)
Me and White Supremacy (Layla F. Saad)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (Michelle Alexander)
The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas)
The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America (Khalil Gibran Muhammad)
Conversations in Black: On Politics, Power and Leadership (Ed Gordon)
Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do (Jennifer L. Eberhardt)
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race (Reni Eddo-Lodge)
Juneteenth: A Novel (Ralph Ellison)
Brave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World (Cheryl Hudson)
White Rage (Carol Anderson)
Our Strategic Partners
