Fostering welcoming and inclusive communities through positive impact
Education creates the voice through which human rights can be claimed and protected.
-Universal Declaration of Human Rights
During the 2017- 2018, Region 15 established the Advisory Committee for Global Citizenship and Character to further the district’s focus on two of the six learner expectations in particular as shown in Figure 1. This group has been composed of a variety of stakeholders, including students, families, staff members, and community members.
The committee continued to meet during the subsequent school years. Over the course of the following school years, the committee membership increased from the original twenty members to more than 100. The majority of the increase in members was due to an increase in community involvement; according to the National Association of Elementary School Principals, about 87% of a student’s waking hours from birth to high school are spent at outside of school (Wherry, 2004) and therefore, it was important to have more of members of the community present at the meetings.
In recent years, the nation, state, and district have had an increase in incidents involving racial and religious slurs and negative behaviors associated with race, ethnicity, gender, social class, ability, religion, appearance, sexual orientation, etc. Additionally, the demographic makeup of the Region 15 community has grown in racial and ethnic diversity.
On October 7, 2020, the committee met to review and discuss the original goals and objectives. Members met in small groups to suggest revisions and additions so that the work could not only continue but move forward. The members who attended the meeting also voted to determine a new name for the committee that encompasses the entire membership. The new name for the advisory committee is the Equity & Inclusion Council.
-Universal Declaration of Human Rights
During the 2017- 2018, Region 15 established the Advisory Committee for Global Citizenship and Character to further the district’s focus on two of the six learner expectations in particular as shown in Figure 1. This group has been composed of a variety of stakeholders, including students, families, staff members, and community members.
The committee continued to meet during the subsequent school years. Over the course of the following school years, the committee membership increased from the original twenty members to more than 100. The majority of the increase in members was due to an increase in community involvement; according to the National Association of Elementary School Principals, about 87% of a student’s waking hours from birth to high school are spent at outside of school (Wherry, 2004) and therefore, it was important to have more of members of the community present at the meetings.
In recent years, the nation, state, and district have had an increase in incidents involving racial and religious slurs and negative behaviors associated with race, ethnicity, gender, social class, ability, religion, appearance, sexual orientation, etc. Additionally, the demographic makeup of the Region 15 community has grown in racial and ethnic diversity.
On October 7, 2020, the committee met to review and discuss the original goals and objectives. Members met in small groups to suggest revisions and additions so that the work could not only continue but move forward. The members who attended the meeting also voted to determine a new name for the committee that encompasses the entire membership. The new name for the advisory committee is the Equity & Inclusion Council.
