– Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Sustainability –

 Our year-round staff participates in Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Sustainability (IDEAS) conversations. The team meets for discussion and devotes time to completing assignments, including readings, exercises, videos, and exploring bias tests. We aim to reach a common understanding of issues and develop actionable steps to address them at our organization.

Our staff sets annual Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART) goals related to IDEAS principles. We actively update our HR policies and hiring practices to be more inclusive and equitable. We are studying our history and reflecting on ways to tell our stories with more balance and acknowledgment of historical wrongs. The process does not end here with a public statement. We are committed to continuing to cultivate a place rooted in equity. Change takes time and work, but it is work worth doing.

• Focus on Universal Design Learning to accommodate learners of different backgrounds, learning styles, and abilities by identifying and promoting existing project-based learning that fosters UDL
• Build relationships with diverse groups and incorporate their perspectives
• Share more inclusive stories
• Reduce language bias in social media, blogs, websites, and videos
• Move IDEAS group work from reflection to action