WHO ARE WE?

The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee is open to all members of the Mitchell community, including school staff, teachers, and leadership; families and caregivers; and PTA board and members. There is an EDI Chair or Co-Chairs who will have one vote on the PTA board and will actively participate in PTA meetings. PTA board members and school leadership are also especially encouraged to attend the EDI Committee meetings to ensure close collaboration.

OUR MISSION

To cultivate equity, inclusion and belonging in the school and community that allows students to bring their whole selves to school today and into the future.

OUR GROUP AGREEMENTS

• We participate to understand not disrupt (i.e. this is a space for all to learn even if we don’t agree)

• We consider all voices by honoring everyone’s humanity and centering marginalized perspectives (i.e. how might x or y community experience this or feel about what is being raised/said?)  

• We embrace messiness and kindness (i.e. we are not aiming for perfection in our thoughts and words)

• We choose authenticity over comfort (i.e. the conversations might be uncomfortable, but we will still engage)

• We listen with the same passion with which we want to be heard

• We are aware of equity of voice in the space (i.e. we speak once, listen three times) 

• We expect and accept non-closure (i.e. this is a journey without an endpoint, we keep learning, growing, and expanding our impact)

OUR ACTIVITIES

During the 2021-2022 school year, in partnership with Dr. Kinette Richards, the committee developed a road map for events and initiatives that make Mitchell a place where all children feel a sense of belonging. As a result of the conversations, the group identified these primary strategies and the corresponding activities to guide our efforts at Mitchell:

Strategy #1:

Build capacity of Mitchell community to cultivate equity, inclusion and belonging.

• Share PTA and District EDI Resources

• Create learning opportunities throughout the year

• Collaborate with other area schools

• Implement Key Questions

Strategy #2:

Host activities to further engage the Mitchell community in EDI learning. Our signature events include:

• Sept 3, 2025: Back Together (movie & dance party night)

• Nov 2025 (date TBD): Parent & Caregiver Education Night

• April, 2026 (date TBD): Better Together: A Celebration of Belonging

Click here to view the full 2024-2025 action plan. Note: This is an iterative document and will be adjusted to add leads and timelines as identified. 

OUR MEETINGS

Meetings are held via Zoom (dates TBD for the 2025-26 school year). To receive the Zoom link and be added to the Mitchell EDI Committee Google Group, please email Mandy Bakulski at mandymc123@gmail.com. 

Meeting dates for the 2025-26 school year are as follows:

• TBD