With Mission in Mind

A Message from the Mayor

It’s June, folks—which means it’s not only time to turn the chapter on spring and welcome in summer, but also celebrate Pride Month. Every year during June, our city joins others across the country to recognize and honor the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

For this year’s celebration, my team and I have decided to launch the “Chicago’s Proud” campaign, which will highlight our city’s LGBTQ+ communities and all they’ve done to enrich our great city. We kicked off this campaign yesterday by not only painting the LaSalle Street crosswalk in front of City Hall with the LGBTQ+ and Transgender flags, but also honoring individuals and organizations who have done incredible work to support, protect, and advocate for our LGBTQ+ residents. 

Being Chicago’s first openly gay mayor is a title that I do not take for granted. In fact, it makes me work that much harder to create pathways for other people like me to obtain positions of leadership and thrive. It is also the result of decades upon decades of LGBTQ+ activism and the tireless work of passionate individuals and organizations both here in Chicago and across the country.

I may be the first, but I will not be the last. And that’s because of the LGBTQ+ changemakers who came before me and continue to fight for equity, inclusion, and dignity.

Thank you and be safe,
Lori

What We Are Doing

While we were not in school last Monday on May 31, we still recognize the significance of both the 100^th Year Anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre and honoring our Veterans every day, especially Memorial Day:

What We Are Watching

October is LGBTQ+ Heritage Month so where does Pride Month originate? Watch this short video below to learn more here.

What We Are Reading

HNC’s Q&A (Queer & Allies) Club, a student-initiated club has officially launched! Click here for recommended reading to better understand the importance of creating safe spaces and affinity group work in schools.

These resources and those below can help you teach the historical precedents for this moment in time for the LGBTQ+ community and introduce ways to start conversations with even the youngest learners about recognizing and acting to address injustice.

A wonderful selection of children’s and YA LGBTQ+ social justice books for children:

As a school with a social justice mission, FXW is committed to Do More with respect to improving the overall quality of community life, educational experience, and circumstances for our Community of Color and marginalized groups here and beyond our four walls. If you have resources to share with the FXW community about equity and justice, please click here.