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:

1. Talk about race and difference.
2. Integrate the toy chest.
3. Integrate the book shelf.
4. Integrate your lives.
5. Talk about absences.
6. Talk about racism and other inequality they can see.
7. Participate in celebrations and expose them to other cultures.
8. Be aware of the impact of language. Use inclusive language and rebuke the use of language that is harmful.
9. Stick to the goal. Don’t let bias stop you from working with the people you need to in order to accomplish something.
10. Be proactive rather than reactive. Think proactively about how you can help create spaces where everyone feels included.
11. Notice bias.
12. Watch yourself and learn from it.
13. Broaden your definition of racism, discrimination, privilege, homophobia, transphobia, heterorsexism, etc. and teach your students.
14. Acknowledge how racism/discrimination/privilege has shaped you and will shape your children/students.
15. Pay attention to intersectionality.
16. Accept your limitations.
17. Don’t let other people set the standard for you.
18. Get comfortable with humility.
19. Educate yourself and your children/students.
20. Accept that effect counts more than intention.
21. Listen to people of color/LGBT people/folks that lack privilege/kids with disabilities and accept their truth.
22. Actively promote change in how systems are organized around privilege. Openly choose and model alternative paths.
23. Set the tone for diversity and inclusion within the school community.
24. Support educators working towards diversity and inclusion.
25. 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.
26. Challenge expressions of homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia, racism, sexism, etc.
27. Let your kids/students hear you talk about things you think are unjust.
28. Speak up and do your part. Your kids/students are watching.
29. Don’t stop!