Public Forums are set in place to be open to public expression and public opinion, most people attend to utilize their freedom of speech to discuss problems and conflicts with those in power. In February the school hosted its second public forum in all the years I’ve attended. I had the privilege to attend, which I’m overly grateful for.    

However, last year I didn’t have the best of experiences in spaces like this. It’s not unusual for emotions to run high, sudden outbursts, or emotional debates. It’s an environment where emotions are driven from two parties fighting to defend their concerns and passions.

With that being said last year I was put in a position where I felt extremely unheard and demeaned. And I felt there was a lack of sensitivity and gentleness to my concerns. My biggest concern was the racial issues that circled around the school,  being a school that doesn’t have as much diversity and experience to deal with racial issues, it’s no surprise that it was the outcome. However that was the first meeting, and everyone has to start somewhere.

This year our meeting was extremely better than the first. With thanks to clubs like Black Student Union, whose mission is to spread awareness on topics such as these. With topics surrounding diversity, the new AP African American studies course, the school decided to introduce a position for the following year which is was a DEI officer. 

A DEI is a Diversity and Equity office that’s the primary purpose in the workplace and school is to aim to reduce workplace discrimination, fight for equal access to services, and promote positive attitudes. They do this through various ways by instilling a series of training including anti-bias, racism, conducting workshops, and having individual and group professional development days, etc. Most especially they create a space for victims of racism and microaggressions to express hurt and concerns and to create solutions.    

This is an extremely big win for minorities at our school, and a huge step in creating improvements and making a space for all people. I have expressed several concerns about the school, incorporating a faculty position for the DEI position.  Not more so the act of placing one at our school, but more or so the hiring process.

Our school’s faculty and staff are made up of almost all white people that aren’t receiving the training on racial bias, diversity, racism as they should. It does raise quite a concern if we put a person in a position while lacking the knowledge of the reason why the position was even established.  Not only that but what does the DEI look like, will it be established for just the students or faculty members? And will the person contribute to the already white staff, or will they hire a person of color. The need for representation is very effective when students are going to people that look like them to express their racial issues.  Not only does the person on receiving end, understand but they also have experienced someone kind of racism.

My final thought is that the public forum was extremely better than last year, but of course like any forum their always room for improvement.