Below are the actions steps from the L&C hosted diversity talk with Elizabeth Lindsay Ryan in early November. Please use these as a resource for parents to talk to your children about diversity:
- Talk about race and difference.
- Integrate the toy chest.
- Integrate the book shelf.
- Integrate your lives.
- Talk about absences.
- Talk about racism and other inequality they can see.
- Participate in celebrations and expose them to other cultures.
- Be aware of the impact of language. Use inclusive language and rebuke the use of language that is harmful.
- Stick to the goal. Don’t let bias stop you from working with the people you need to in order to accomplish something.
- Be proactive rather than reactive. Think proactively about how you can help create spaces where everyone feels included.
- Notice bias.
- Watch yourself and learn from it.
- Broaden your definition of racism, discrimination, privilege, homophobia, transphobia, heterorsexism, etc. and teach your students.
- Acknowledge how racism/discrimination/privilege has shaped you and will shape your children/students.
- Pay attention to intersectionality.
- Accept your limitations.
- Don’t let other people set the standard for you.
- Get comfortable with humility.
- Educate yourself and your children/students.
- Accept that effect counts more than intention.
- Listen to people of color/LGBT people/folks that lack privilege/kids with disabilities and accept their truth.
- Actively promote change in how systems are organized around privilege. Openly choose and model alternative paths.
- Set the tone for diversity and inclusion within the school community.
- Support educators working towards diversity and inclusion.
- Continually recognize that you make these commitments to create change for yourself, not for a marginalized other. Diversity and inclusion are for all of us.
- Challenge expressions of homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia, racism, sexism, etc.
- Let your kids/students hear you talk about things you think are unjust.
- Speak up and do your part. Your kids/students are watching.
- Don’t stop!