Parenting Toward Human Rights and Equity
Who We Are
Parenting Towards Human Rights and Equity (PTHRE) was created by and for Laurelhurst parents. We teach ourselves and our children the skills of building an inclusive and just community that recognizes and honors each child’s full identity and in which every child flourishes. Guided by the principles embodied in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we work in partnership with Laurelhurst leadership, staff, and PTA.
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You will receive a maximum of 10 PTHRE Newsletters/year when you subscribe.
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The content of the newsletters is specific to the challenges and needs of K-8 students and families who attend Laurelhurst School in Portland, Oregon.
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PTHRE will never ask you to donate money or try to sell you anything.
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PTHRE will never share, rent, sell or do anything else with your email address other than occasionally send you PTHRE newsletters.
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PTHRE will never post photos of your children on this or any other website.
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PTHRE will only post student work on this website with the permission of both the student and their parent(s).
Advisory and Planning Committee
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Amy Potter, Organizer & Coordinator
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Kim Aziz
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Jon Carr
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Bryn Diaz
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Aaron Lefitz*
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Jennifer Scanlon
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Ashley Thirstrup
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Jesse Blackburn
*Aaron is also the Equity and Inclusion Chair on the PTA. Please contact him at equity@laurelhurstschoolpta.org
Community Events and Resources
Race Talks PDX Monthly event, usually held at The Kennedy School.
Oregon Humanities Conversation Project "brings people together to talk about their beliefs and experiences around timely and important issues and ideas."
Embrace Race Educational webinars dedicated to talking about race with young children.
Would you like to share an event? Email LaurelhurstPTHRE@gmail.org and we'll post it here!
2021-2022 Calendar
Questions? Contact LaurelhurstPTHRE@gmail.com
PTHRE Family Media Club
Details coming soon for the 2021-2022 school year.
Welcome to the PTHRE Media Club - a low-stress, no prep-work, come-as-you-are, no long-term commitment space where all of us can learn together and support the goal of having hard, yet uplifting and necessary conversations at home everyday.
Here’s how it works…once a month we come together for an hour and a half to view or read some content - articles, TEDtalks, podcasts etc. that will shed some light on issues of human rights and equity. No homework, no outside reading - only a shared experience viewing and listening together. Then we practice how to answer the hard questions and manage the complicated ideas our kids will surely share once they get the chance to watch or listen too.
Sign-up for one session or all four. Please, RSVP so we can prepare for the group. (TBD)
Exploring Identity: A 4-week workshop to support adults who want to talk to kids about race & Identity
Explore the impacts of race in our lives and the lives of our children. How do we raise our children with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in a diverse community? This workshop will be facilitated by Laurelhurst parents and educators, Kim Aziz and Jon Carr.
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Thursdays in February; 6PM to 8PM at Laurelhurst Library or in virtual format
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*Registration required * (Link Coming Soon)
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This class is for parents. If offered in person, childcare will be provided on site.
What parents say:
"One thing I learned (from the PTHRE workshop) was that talking about race and knowing how to stand up in the face of racism is a skill. Skills are taught and learned. Skills are practiced. Without the right tools and practice, most of us (me) are too unsure of our skills to stand up when it’s an explosive situation. By learning through PTHRE the basic conversations to have with my kids, I feel better equipped to guide them, and more confident in my own ability and conviction to recognize and respond when it matters. Very thankful our school has PTHRE."
"I've realized how much work I need to do, but I don't feel ashamed. And I really appreciate this."
Spring Warm Weather Event(s) (All ages)
Warm, sunny days in spring. In a park. TBD.
Softball, Ultimate frisbee, Kickball, cycling, croquet, pilates on the turf. TBD.
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Past events from 2019-2021
Fall Event - Story Time: “Counting on Katherine” (all ages)
Tuesday, Oct 8th, 6PM to 7:30PM in the library
Build equity and inclusion skills with our young children through books. An event for K-3 students and their parents. Led by middle school students and PTHRE. All ages welcome!
“Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.”
Early Winter Event - Mobile Justice Apps (Geared toward 5th-8th grades and parents, but younger kids are welcome, too).
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Wednesday January 22; 6PM - 7:30PM; Library
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Equity and Inclusion apps - yes they exist! Do they work? Let’s explore them. We'll test out and evaluate different apps. Kids are the Expert Reviewers. Led by Lhurst parent Jesse Blackburn.
PTHRE Virtual Conversations:
Summer and Fall 2020
Me and White Supremacy, by Layla Saad
Monthly, starting Thursday July 16 2020, 7PM-8:30PM (PST), via zoom. These community conversations are intended for parents & caregivers of students in the Laurelhurst School community; however, we welcome everyone who would like to participate, including MS, HS and college aged youth, friends and neighbors; and family members from afar.
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Join us to discuss Me and White Supremacy, by Layla Saad. Available for free download by the Multnomah County Library.
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Registered participants will receive a zoom link two days prior to the conversation.
Past Media Club Conversations included:
Thursday, February 18, 7:00-8:30p
Topic: Don’t Call Me Special: A conversation about ableism
Thursday, March 18, 7:00-8:30p
Topic: Bias shows up in the Darnedest Places - Algorithmic Bias
Thursday, April 15, 7:00-8:30p
Topic: What does it mean to be Native American today? Resilience in Right Relation
Thursday, May 13, 7:00-8:30p
Topic: Immigration