The Two Rivers Scholarly Habit, ‘I show compassion and embrace diversity,’ was especially evident in the month of February, as the Two Rivers Community united to explore the impact of Black history. This month, daily learning honored Black contributions, recognizing that Black history not only matters today, tomorrow, but also in the future.
The 2026 national theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” serves as a reminder of the profound influence African Americans had on advancing equality and unity, as well as fostering cultural pride. Through daily crew presentations on Black innovators, a network-wide program, HBC-You Block Party, a door decorating contest, and spirit week, students and staff engaged in an opportunity to embrace diversity and learn better together.
Keep reading to learn more about this month’s initiatives.
Black Lives Matter Week of Action
During Black Lives Matter Week of Action, students engaged in thoughtful and heartfelt reflections, as many articulated their beliefs in visible ways. Some expressed, “my friends and family deserve the ability to live without fear of being hurt or worse,” while others stated, “we are all important, and everyone should be treated the same.”
Students publicly expressing why Black lives matter within their school and the broader community affirms that the week fostered critical internalization and a collective conversation that affects society widely.
Door Decorating Concert and Spirit Week
Crews designed and decorated classroom doors honoring Black figures tied to this year’s theme. Door highlights included Black innovators, Black history timelines, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Divine Nine organizations.
Additionally, our students and staff proudly celebrated Black History Month with a Spirit Week full of creativity and pride. Students spearheaded the selection of daily themes that resonated most with our community. Each day highlighted something meaningful: HBCU/College Day, Black fashion, African and Pan-African attire, and the week concluded with a powerful Unity Blackout Day.
HBC-You Block Party
Electric is one word that can be used to describe the energy at each HBC-You Block Party. From north to south, members of the Divine 9 hailed from all over to spread knowledge, celebrate, and proudly represent their organization. Students engaged meaningfully and discovered the history and importance of HBCUs.
BHM Evening Program
To close out the month, we celebrated with a network-wide evening program. Families, staff, and students gathered in celebration of the trailblazing accomplishments made by African Americans. From poem readings, Gospel dances, and cultural performances, students flourished in their ability to honor history with confidence and understanding.
More than the performances, the Two Rivers community stood firm in solidarity and connection. The room was filled with appreciation and applause, recognizing not only talent but also shared learning and advancement.
This year’s national theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” is simply a reminder that honoring Black history extends beyond one month; it is a daily commitment. At Two Rivers, acknowledging Black history emphasizes our ongoing pursuit of embracing diversity and acknowledging the contributions of all cultures.
Two Rivers Race and Equity Vision Statement
“Our Vision Statement reminds us what we mean by nurturing a diverse group of students…”
We commit to being a socially responsive, anti-racist institution that celebrates, respects, and uplifts all children and adults. As such, we stand firm on eliminating the inequities found in our academic and culture data. We address, dismantle, and critically reflect to hold ourselves and others accountable to better provide a safe learning environment where all community members have a voice and feel a sense of belonging. Through these adaptive shifts, we aim to eliminate all forms of white privilege, oppression, systemic racism, and discrimination in our network and community.”
~Isa Walker, Communications Associate
