PADC - Piedmont Anti-Racism & Diversity Committee

01/23/2024

Thank you for joining us for the 27th Annual MLK Day Celebration!

Hundreds of attendees from Piedmont and beyond gathered in the Alan Harvey Theater on Monday to hear the eloquent and inspiring remarks of Corrina Gould of Sogorea Te' Land Trust and keynote speaker Dr. Amber Johnson of UC Berkeley. Piedmont Mayor Jen Cavenaugh, PADC president Ellen Lee and MLK Celebration Founder Lois Corrin shared reflections and BSU representative Alejandra Roy presented a stirring call to action for our community. Multiple performances by OIGC's Oakland Youth Chorus uplifted all in attendance.

We will be sharing a recording of the event in an upcoming email, please stay tuned! In the meanwhile, visit the links below to learn more about the event participants and their organizations.

Sogorea Te' Land Trust: https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/

Dr. Amber Johnson, The Justice Fleet: https://www.thejusticefleet.com/

The OIGC Youth Program: https://www.oigc.org/youth

PHS and MHS ASB Presentation: History of Racism and Redlining in Piedmont: https://vimeo.com/886595255/c57b18d441

We need your input!
Your feedback helps PADC continually improve our events and community offerings, and we'd welcome your frank and constructive input on this year's MLK event. Please follow the link below to share your thoughts before Wednesday, January 24th. Thank you in advance! https://forms.gle/UAou4w1YWzvCAYmf7

Hello and thank you for joining us for the 2024 MLK Celebration! We would value your feedback and reflections on this year's event. We especially welcome your constructive criticism so that we can continue to improve this annual event for our broader community. In order for us to compile the results...

01/11/2024

Excellent piece in the East Bay Times about the upcoming MLK Celebration! Read it here: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/01/09/piedmonts-27th-annual-martin-luther-king-day-celebration-monday/?share=rnrmybm27ayklgoosoan

Still need tickets for Monday's event? Reserve your spot using this link: http://tinyurl.com/PADCMLK

Get tickets on Humanitix - 27th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration hosted by PADC. Alan Harvey Theater, 800 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611, USA. Monday January 15th 2024. Find event information.

01/03/2024

27th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
presented by PADC and the City of Piedmont

Join us on January 15, 2024 from 11am-12:15 pm at the Alan Harvey Theater. The theme for this year's event is Remain Awake.

Register for this free event here: http://tinyurl.com/PADCMLK

The program will feature speakers including Corrina Gould of the Sogorea Te' Land Trust, Mayor of Piedmont Jen Cavenaugh, and keynote speaker Dr. Amber Johnson, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff in the Division for Equity & Inclusion at UC Berkeley. The event will also feature OIGC’s Oakland Youth Chorus and the third annual Art & Essay Showcase (new deadline 1/10/24, submit here: https://www.padc.info/showcase ).

10/15/2023

Dear Friends-

Please join us Monday, Oct. 23 for a conversation about the history of Piedmont; the early origins of redlining in the Bay Area, and how it affected one family in particular, the Dearing family.

“History of Piedmont: Racism and Redlining” will be presented by Piedmont High School Associated Student Body students, supported by the Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee (PADC).

The presentation, which will also be given to Piedmont High School sophomores and juniors in early November, follows the tumultuous and complicated legacy of our community. Created by members of the PHS Associated Student Body, they hope it will inspire change and promote an inclusive environment.

Doors will open at 6 pm at the Alan Harvey Theater. The presentation will begin at 6:30 pm. We also invite you to stay after the program for light refreshments and conversation from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. This event is free to attend.

The more we know about our past, the better we can aid the future of Piedmont.

(Photo of Sidney and Irene Dearing donated by Roberta P., Elizabeth Dearing Hall's (Sidney's sister's) granddaughter)

08/17/2023

Dear Friends-

With the start of the school year upon us, we at the Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee (PADC) are reflecting on the busy and fruitful past year and enthusiastically planning for the year ahead.

As we look forward to the 2023-2024 year, we’re asking for your help in reaching our $10,000 fundraising goal. These funds allow us to finance grants, programs and events that support our schools and engage our community as we work toward building an equitable and inclusive community in Piedmont.

Here are some examples of how your donations have supported robust programming for our schools, community engagement and conversations, and more.

In the 2022-2023 school year, PADC:
Awarded nearly $6000 in grants that supported initiatives such as storytelling presentations in our elementary schools during Black History Month and books and supplies to support the Chinese language classes at PMS and PHS

Supported the establishment of DEI Councils at Beach and Wildwood, modeled after the one at Havens

Hosted a listening session and community discussion on the national rise in book banning, facilitated by PUSD librarians

Hosted a community gathering and book reading with acclaimed author Jonathan Escoffery, whose short story collection If I Survive You about the immigrant experience in America was shortlisted for the National Book Award, PEN/Faulkner Award and many others

Held our first in-person Martin Luther King Jr. celebration since the pandemic, attended by hundreds of people from Piedmont and beyond. The program, which took place at the Alan Harvey Theater at Piedmont High School, featured performances by the Oaktown Jazz Workshops and New Style Motherlode Studio, as well as a keynote by Kate Schatz, co-author with W. Kamau Bell of Do the Work! An Anti-Racist Activity Book

These thought-provoking, educational and inspiring initiatives and events would not have been possible without your participation and support.

We are also grateful for our continued partnerships with students, teachers, and staff, city leaders, fellow parents, and community groups such as the Piedmont Racial Equity Campaign (PREC), Piedmont Asian American Club, El Grupo Latino de Piedmont, Piedmont Jewish Community, and the Black Youth Family Collective.

We remain dedicated to our mission of fostering a community where everyone feels like they belong and can thrive. This requires ongoing, sustained effort, and is not possible without you. Please consider supporting PADC by making a donation here: https://www.padc.info/donate .

Curious about other ways to support PADC? We are looking for volunteers and would be glad to have you join us! Complete the form here with your contact information and how you might like to help and we'll be in touch soon: https://www.padc.info/volunteer .

We are eager to welcome you at one of our monthly meetings (open to all—more information coming soon) or at an upcoming community event. Thank you for everything you do to support this important work!

In solidarity,

PADC Executive Board

01/03/2023

Greetings Friends,

Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee and the City of Piedmont invite you to the 26th Annual Piedmont MLK Celebration on January 16th, 2023 at 11 am - 12:30 pm in the Alan Harvey Theater. This year’s theme is Beyond Race, Beyond Class, Beyond Nation.

This year’s in person program, co-sponsored by PADC and the City of Piedmont, will feature performances by New Style Motherlode Entertainment and Oaktown Jazz Workshops. Speakers include Corrina Gould of the Sogorea Te' Land Trust; Congresswoman Barbara Lee; Mayor of Piedmont Jen Cavenaugh; Dr. Clayborne Carson, Founding Director of Stanford's King Research & Education Institute, and keynote speaker Kate Schatz, co-author of Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book. Also featured this year is the second annual Art & Writing Showcase.

Register for this free event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/26th-annual-mlk-celebration-tickets-479581088947

12/15/2022

Second Annual Art and Writing Showcase

Calling all artists and writers! Be featured in the annual MLK Day Celebration! PADC invites K-12 students to contribute art and writing to be showcased in the celebration event. All contributors will be entered into a raffle to win one of ten $25 gift cards. Click here: https://www.padc.info/awapp for more information and to submit!

(artwork by Sofia Vuori, participant in the 2022 showcase)

12/15/2022

Greetings Friends,

We're pleased to invite you to the 26th Annual MLK Celebration! The theme for this year's event is Beyond Race, Beyond Class, Beyond Nation.

After two years of virtual celebrations, the 2023 event will once again be in person. Be sure to mark your calendars for January 16, 2023 from 11am-12:30pm.

Please stay tuned for additional details about event speakers and performances, a link to tickets, and a host of opportunities to volunteer. We are looking forward to being in community with you at this much anticipated annual event.