Blog

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest In Our Planet.” As we celebrate Earth Day, it is essential to acknowledge the intersectionality of environmentalism and recognize the disproportionate impact of climate change, pollution, and environmental breakdown on marginalized communities. As outlined in the article below, “In a 2018 study on air quality published in the American Journal of Public Health,…
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The GLSEN Day of Silence is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ students and allies all around the country—and the world—take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools. Register at the link below and make plans to be the adults speaking up on behalf…
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April is the start of “Advocacy Season” in Massachusetts as this is the time in the State legislative calendar where budgets are announced and priorities become clear for various legislators and advocacy groups. Learn about this process on the right and then research the legislative priorities of groups that matter to you. Below is a link…
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By Amy Hogarth, Director of Training and Equity Culture The campaign, Change a Word Change a Life, was founded to call more attention to using proper pronouns can support members of the LGTBQIA+ community. ​​​​​​​ Read and Learn These Statistics: about LGBTQ MetroWest Youth The MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey (MWHAS) is conducted by Education Development…
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On this Social Worker Appreciation Month, take time to reflect on how social work itself has been used to uphold oppression in the past and how it could be used to undo it in the future. The National Association of Social Workers have done just that and laid out a two-year plan for the future…
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Dr. Joy Buolamwini, noticed the facial recognition software she was working on couldn’t detect her face, uncovering that the software was never trained to detect the full range of human skin tones. Dr. Timnit Gebru coauthored papers showing facial recognition to be less accurate at identifying women and people of color and that language-based models trained…
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In honor of Women’s History Month in March, get your free tickets to the Boston Symphony Orchestra to hear the panel discussion: Her Story. “Julia Wolfe’s Her Story captures the ongoing struggle for women’s voices in America. Lorelei joins forces with the Boston Symphony to tell this important history. Julia Wolfe and a panel of scholars discuss the…
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Amy Hogarth Director of Training & Equity Culture What is the difference between Calling In & Calling Out? To us at Wayside – it is about intention and connection – we think calling out in large industry can be impactful. We think in non-profit and community settings we prefer a “call-in.” The call in is…
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With so much in the news about legislators trying to pass laws to ban books in school, it really demonstrates just how powerful it is to see yourself and your community reflected in a book. Check out the below list of children’s books reflecting the diversity of the human experience and go read one to…
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This February make plans to celebrate Black History Month in your programs and in your life. After several years of virtual celebrations, many organizations are now holding events in the community. You can start by visiting the African American History Museum in Boston, walking the Black Heritage Trail, attending the Afro Caribbean Black History Gala & Awards,…
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