Dec. 3 DEIB Recap
DEIB Committee Meeting & Workshop Summary
Date: December 3, 2025
Location: Zoom
Participants: 17 attendees
Facilitator: Ilsa Govan
Welcome & Introductions
- Cultivate community (encouraged cameras on).
- Update Zoom names with pronouns.
- Closed captions available.
- Noted change: Seattle Public Education partnership eliminated.
Standing Strong for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Objectives
- Build a shared understanding of DEIB.
- Practice DEIB advocacy skills.
Shared Understanding of DEIB
Core Definitions
- Diversity: Range of identities including race, gender, socioeconomic background, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, etc.
- Equity: Fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all.
- Inclusion: Creating environments where all groups feel welcome and respected.
- Belonging: The personal feeling—and collective practice—of safety and inclusion in emotional, physical, and psychological ways; all groups have a voice in shaping the space.
Messaging DEIB Effectively
Key Principles
- Bring it home: Connect DEIB to what someone already values (e.g., fairness, children’s safety).
- Benefits over risks: Positive framing is more persuasive than focusing on consequences.
- Audience matters: Messaging shifts depending on whether speaking to parents, staff, district leadership, etc.
- Align with values: For district-level conversations, connect to mission and core values.
- Reframing DEIB amid political shifts: Focus on belonging and fairness, which resonate broadly.
- Explain equity simply: Helping each person get what they need.
“Why Do You Care About DEIB?” – Personal Reflections
Participants discussed their personal motivations. Themes included:
- Advocating for change requires understanding others’ experiences
- Addressing suffering and misunderstanding, especially for children lacking strong support
- Recognizing society’s interdependence; helping all children benefits the whole community
- Sharing personal lived experience (socioeconomic differences, neurodivergence, gender identity) to build connection and vulnerability
Phrases & Ideas That Resonated
- Belonging is the opposite of fitting in.
- Be an advocate of change.
- We are interdependent.
- Positive reframing is powerful.
- Do you believe in human rights?
- Amplify voices for social justice.
- Women and people of color are often heard less; advocacy matters.
How to Be an Ally
Calling In vs. Calling Out
- Focus on connection before redirection.
- Hold compassion for someone’s intent while addressing impact.
- Use “I” statements to support accountability without shame.
Using Stories
- Personal or general stories help build empathy and connection.
- Ask yourself: Why do I care about DEIB?
Partnering & Supporting Each Other
- Advocate together; back each other in challenging moments.
Responding to Microaggressions
Approach
- Ask genuine, curious questions, such as:
- “Could you repeat that slowly?”
- “When you say you ‘don’t see color,’ can you say more about that?”
- “Would you be open to hearing a different perspective?”
- Avoid accusatory ‘why’ questions when possible.
- Connection before education: Let the person do their own reflective work before offering information.
- Thank them for engaging, but don’t force closure; set boundaries if needed.
Emotional Regulation: STAB
- Stop, Take a Breath when strong emotions arise.
- Respond rather than react; name that you had an emotional response.
- Recognize embarrassment or shame may arise—avoid weaponizing it.
Courage & Accountability
- Being willing to have uncomfortable conversations is essential.
- Keep humanity at the center while still addressing harm.
Key Workshop Themes
- DEIB should be connected to the needs and desires of students.
- DEIB must adapt to the shifting political landscape.
- A just society requires caring for others—even from a self-interest perspective.
- We are all interconnected; belonging is fundamental.
Meeting Resources
Questions? Please reach out to LWPTSA Council DEIB Chair Morgan Sampson at Diversity@LWPTSA.net.