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Daly City, CA

K-8 Cultural Celebration Program: Solidarity, Transformation, Affirmation, and Resilience

Grant Amount

$18,200

Year Awarded

2025-2026

Project Coordinator

Nishat Taylor

Grant Type

Team

Local Association

Bayshore Teachers Association

Focus Area

Civic Engagement and Community Leadership

About the Project

The K-8 Cultural Celebration Program is designed to promote cultural awareness, unity, and resilience by ensuring that all students see themselves reflected in their learning while gaining a deeper appreciation for the diverse experiences of others. This program fosters a sense of belonging by allowing students to see their identities affirmed, explore different perspectives, and engage meaningfully with diverse cultures. Through four major student-led celebrations — Latino Heritage Month, Black History Month, Native American Heritage Month, and Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — students will showcase their heritage, learn from their peers, and cultivate their academic and cultural strengths. These celebrations provide authentic opportunities to highlight student voices, build solidarity, and transform learning.

Meet the Project Coordinator

Nishat Taylor

Nishat Taylor and Jennifer Young first met in 2019 when they both applied to join the Integrated Actions Civics program through the UC Berkeley History–Social Science Project. Instantly, they connected over their shared commitment to social justice activism and their unwavering advocacy for BIPOC children. Nishat, a kindergarten teacher, and Jennifer, a 4th-grade teacher, have been teaching together at The Bayshore School since 2022.Together, they co-founded the Organizing and Equity Committee, serving as chairwomen for their local Bayshore Teachers Association chapter. They have organized community actions such as picketing for fair contracts, mobilizing large turnouts for school board meetings, and fostering solidarity between certificated and classified staff.At the heart of their work lies a deep passion for supporting educators of color and uplifting and empowering students of color. They believe this commitment is not just reflected in the initiatives they lead, but also in the way they live, teach, and show up in their communities. Their work is grounded in the belief that antiracist teaching practices and cultural awareness are essential to building more just, inclusive, and liberated schools. While their organizing journey has only just begun, Nishat and Jennifer are committed in their vision of creating educational spaces where every child, and every educator, can thrive.

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