How can you empower students of color to create a culture of belonging?

It is importante to establish safe spaces where students of color can express themselves freely, share their experiences, and receive support from peers, mentors, and colleagues open to their perspectives/input.

As an author of diverse children's books and DEI professional, I firmly believe in empowering students of color to create a culture of belonging by providing them with diverse and inclusive literature that reflects their identities and experiences. By normalizing diverse narratives in children's books and promoting representation and educational settings, especially in the preschool and elementary settings, we can still a sense of pride, belonging and acceptance among students of color at a very young age to make the biggest future impact.

As an art educator, I find there are endless opportunities to incorporate positive examples of people from diverse backgrounds. I tell my students, “Throughout history, great art has been made by people of every race, gender, and culture. My mission is to teach you that art is for everyone.” I teach historical and current artists from a variety of backgrounds so that all students see themselves reflected and also learn from others. The traditional canon of European male artists is tired and well-supported with research and resources for teachers. It’s time to broaden our students’ understanding of who has impacted the art world and continues to do so today!

In pursuit of realizing true empowerment, the Northeast STEM Starter Academy at Mt Vernon has delivered in excess of 90+ STEM after-school, weekend, and summer programs. Our programs focus on creating impactful STEM learning experiences that encourage our at-risk, underserved student population to understand that their hard work will position them for exciting high-earning careers and make a difference. Exposure and access is a powerful change agent!

First, it is inappropriate to place the onus on students of color to create a culture of belonging. While they are certainly participants, it is the instructor’s responsibility to foster a culture of belonging. It is essential that the instructor promote authenticity within the learning environment. In doing so, they must model how the course content connects to their personal life and share their successes and struggles with learning said content. A culture of belonging is one in which all members are respected for and encouraged to make(ing) personal and cultural connections with the content. They are free to share their diverse ways of knowing and learning, thereby benefiting learning for all.

When students see genuine commitment to inclusion in action, they are more likely to feel valued, respected, and engaged. They look to their leaders, teachers, and staff members to see the tone for inclusion. If these individuals don't "walk the talk," their words will ring hollow.

Make sure students of colour feel represented in intercollegiate competitions, leadership roles and even simply down to who gets to appear on the front cover of a school prospectus, or perform an ambassador role to showcase the school on Open Days. However, these representations must be earned, not given, or else the well intended gesture will back fire. There is nothing worse than having the students feel their "special treatment" was handed down.

Criar uma cultura de pertencimento para os estudantes negros é o melhor caminho para construir uma sociedade mais justa e igualitária. Logo, deixo algumas dicas abaixo: 1. Crie um currículo que inclua a história e a cultura afro-brasileira. 2. Convide palestrantes e especialistas em rela??es raciais para falar na escola. 3. Promova a intera??o entre alunos de diferentes origens e culturas.