Technical Assistance Webinars - are being planned and will open for registration in the fall of 2026. Please continue to review this webpage for future dates and times.
Glossary of Terms
Communities of Color – As related to identity-based communities that may also share geographic commonalities, history, and current/historical experiences of racism. Given that race is a socially defined construct, the definitions of these communities are unique and ever evolving. Examples of communities of color may include but are not limited to the following communities: Africans, African Americans, Indigenous peoples, Latina/o/x peoples, Asians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and/or people who identify as Middle East North African (MENA).
Cultural Competency - The ability to effectively interact, work, care for, and develop meaningful relationships with people - including students - who hold identities different from one's own.
Marginalized Communities – People and/or groups of people who have experienced social, political, and/or economic exclusion due factors such as race, gender identity, citizenship, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and/or language. Members of these communities are often subjected to discrimination, reduced access to resources and opportunities, and limited representation in decision-making, resulting in significant barriers achieving equality or reaching their full potential.
Intersectionality - Today, this term is popularly used to describe and examine how an individual's multiple identities overlap to create unique experiences, how systems of oppression work together, and how individuals can experience multiple forms of oppression simultaneously.
Full and Complex American History – A comprehensive understanding of historical narratives and various aspects that have shaped what is now the United States throughout its existence. This might include content from its pre-origins and origins to the present day. Content could also include a wide range of events, people, cultures, social, political, and economic developments, complexities, triumphs, struggles, and diverse voices, in both the past and present.
Contact Information:
Questions related to the American History Resources website may be directed to Social Studies Consultant - Scott Koenig, KoenigS1@Michigan.gov.
