Community leaders get update on district's upcoming DEI plans

Christopher Sciria
AECSD Public Information Specialist

Continuing its efforts to broaden diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the Auburn Enlarged City School District held a luncheon on Oct. 6 that brought together community leaders from a wide swath of organizations representing different professional fields.

Dr. Renee Burgess, the district’s executive director of DEI, led the event to share the district’s upcoming initiatives and show that relationships have the power to advance them.

 

The luncheon was an opportunity for community leaders from fields such as education, law enforcement, tourism, social agencies, government and business to meet and discuss how to achieve DEI goals in the community.

Some of the opportunities that the district plans include a parent/guardian university, a civil service presentation at the high school, a potential partnership with Micron, which is building a silicon chip manufacturing facility in Onondaga County, a Student United Way group at the high school, a Social Studies Task Force and seeking partnerships in participation in the My Brother’s Keeper Challenge, a mentoring and leadership program for boys and young men of color - and all youth. 

The district is working with the Human Rights Commission, the Cayuga/Seneca Action Agency, Cayuga Counseling, the United Way of Cayuga County, the Seward House Museum, the Auburn Police Department, the Auburn Civil Service Commission, the Cayuga Museum, the Cayuga County Office of Tourism and with its own professional learning sessions on efforts to increase DEI.
 

 

The district itself has four priorities in regard to DEI; it aims to recruit a culturally and ethnically diverse teaching staff and retention of all teachers; professional learning to promote DEI; celebrating cultural, ethnic and shared community aspirations that empower student self-worth and positive recognition of a student’s learning potential and fostering a safe, welcoming and affirming school environment that supports and empowers the social emotional well-being and collegiality among staff and students.

All of these priorities have goals that aim to be met this year and in 2024.