Follow our DEI Journey

Creating New Pathways to Achieve Equitable Learning for All

Cappy Hour Event with Natchez Elementary School Student Speakers
Our Commitment

We live in a vast and varied state—both in geography and in ideology. Sometimes it can be challenging to come together physically and intellectually and find common ground. View our Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion statement here: English version and Spanish version.

Latest News from DEBI Cohort 2 Change Team
Belonging/Culture & Climate
Addressing how our organization fosters a climate of belonging.
Communication
Addressing the need for clear communication including working directly with our Team Members.
Education/Training
Addressing the need for clarity including rolling out appropriate, meaningful, training and education materials.

Glossary of DEBI Terms

Diversity
Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, and it encompasses all the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. It is all-inclusive and recognizes everyone and every group as part of the diversity that should be valued. A broad definition includes not only race, ethnicity, and gender—the groups that most often come to mind when the term “diversity” is used—but also age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. It also involves different ideas, perspectives, and values.
How Diversity

Connects with our Work

Source

Staff and students all come from a diverse set of backgrounds, and it is important to acknowledge and embrace those diversities and use equity in order to best serve our students.

Equity
The process of identifying and removing the barriers that create disparities in the access to resources and means, and the achievement of fair treatment and equal opportunities to thrive.
How Equity

Connects with our Work

Source

Our role here at CIS is to help students who are fighting systemic barriers that are inhibiting them from getting the education they deserve and part of that means providing resources that are needed. This could look different for every student and that is equity.

Belonging
A sense of being secure, recognized, affirmed, and accepted equally such that full participation is possible.
How Belonging

Connects with our Work

Source

CIS is a very team-oriented environment and organization as a whole so what comes with that is making sure everyone feels as if they belong. The same thing applies to our students. Sometimes we are the only responsible adult in their life, and we want them to feel as if they belong.

Inclusion
The act of creating an environment in which any individual or group will be welcomed, respected, supported, and valued as a fully participating member. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces and respects differences.
How Inclusion

Connects with our Work

Source

Inclusion is crucial in CIS because as an organization, we feel it is important for people to feel heard and be included to best serve not only our staff but our students too.

“Both the English and Spanish languages coexisted as one in my household. Being bilingual is a skill, but it’s also my identity.”

-Pita Santillan, CIS Site Coordinator III at Reed Elementary School