Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

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Welcome to Highland Park Elementary’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Community Group

The Highland Park Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community Group (HP DEI CG) envisions a Highland Park that is not only diverse, equitable and inclusive, but also a community that produces DEI champions who go on to create similar environments elsewhere, throughout their lives. 

We are a group open to all caregivers, staff and students. We are committed to developing and maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive learning environment that centers underrepresented voices at Highland Park through support, celebration, education, advocacy and more.

As we seek to realize our vision, we bring HP’s values of success, citizenship, opportunity, teamwork, innovation and solutions to life. 

What Exactly Does the HP DEI CG Do?

  1. Monthly Meetings

We hold monthly meetings with a central theme like Black History Month or Indigenous Peoples Month. The themes are loosely based on the multicultural calendar from PTA.org. During each after-school meeting, we enjoy dinner and connection as a group, then split up between the adults (caregivers and staff) and students to take part in discussion activities focused on the theme for that month. These meetings and events help increase understanding and awareness of different communities and cultures within our school, city and state. 

  1. Regular Coffee Chats 

We get together as caregivers to do deep dives on DEI topics in a more casual setting. This creates a space to support each other on tough DEI issues like discussing racism with kids.

  1. Educate on HP’s Incident Reporting Form

In collaboration with administration, the DEI CG created an anonymous form to report Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, or Hate. The form includes an option to have someone from the DEI CG leadership team reach out to support the individual / family in any way they feel comfortable with. 

How Can I Get Involved?

  1. Join the HP DEI Community Group Parent Square page to stay in the loop on events, activities and calls for volunteers

  1. Reach out to deiliason@hppta.org with any comments or questions, or if you would like to volunteer to help with or host a monthly meeting. 

  1. Join our monthly community group meetings (for kids and adults). Meetings alternate each month between every second Wednesday and every second Thursday of each month. Exact dates are available on both the school and DEI CG calendars in Parent Square.