Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB)
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
CWC LA schools are built on the belief that the diversity of our communities, and of the world at large, is necessary to develop true Citizens of the World. . Through targeted outreach and recruitment, our charter schools are intentionally designed to reflect their surrounding communities and the larger society in terms of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and all other forms of diversity, both seen and unseen. By learning, interacting and growing in a diverse setting, our students are preparing to thrive in the world around them.
At CWC West Valley, our students (starting as young as transitional kindergarten) experience our program to build skills in working along lines of difference in a variety of contexts. Students engage in multidisciplinary and cross-cultural projects together, sharing perspectives from their own rich heritage and learning about others..
Morning Meetings in elementary school or ROOTS classes in middle school might bring up a topic from the news so that students can process together and hear different points of view in a well-facilitated, safe environment. Our curriculum reaches into a variety of cultures for lessons, including social studies, the arts, science, literacy, field trips, and the celebration of a multitude of holidays. CWC West Valley is committed to ensuring that our students, staff, and families are validated and affirmed for who they are and feel a sense of belonging in our community.
Regional Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Belonging
Our community has documented our commitment to DEI through the following vision statement and supporting documents. These definitions were developed through staff and caregiver community feedback. CWC’s regional Head of DEI will start in the 2022-23 school year. Regional staff and a DEI Leaders Council, made up of staff and caregivers from each school, meet regularly to discuss and actualize multi-year DEI goals, as well as outline annual priorities and initiatives.
Regional Multi-Year DEI Goals
Ensure all stakeholders feel a sense of belonging.
- Recruit, retain and provide leadership opportunities for diverse students, staff and families
- Ensure programs, people, processes and practices are accessible and equitable for all stakeholders
- Build the skill, will and capacity for all stakeholders to engage in DEIB learning, growth and development
Regional DEI Expansion Fund
The DEI Expansion Fund is an initiative to sustain and expand regional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments that will also scale and sustain our school communities’ DEI work. We hope to build on existing DEI investments and strategies across the region to amplify and deepen our work, as well as ensure our DEI priorities are funded on a multi-year horizon.
Example DEI Practices at CWC West Valley
DEI can look different with each school community. School leaders and staff work with students and caregivers to learn about, celebrate, and support diverse experiences and cultures.
Events and activities at CWC West Valley, have included:
Community-building events at CWC WV include all-school beach days, classroom play dates, movie nights, dine outs, social events, fall festival, theme park days, and a spring bash with auction; we love our community! We also host “Cafecito” social hours and a parent education series where parents can learn about our curriculum and instruction surrounding SEL, DEIB, Academics/Data, and Inquiry.
Cultural Celebrations
Cultural celebrations at CWC WV are embedded in our All School Meetings and Monthly Monday “Wake Up” celebrations. During these all-community meetings, we
discuss current events and highlight current cultural holidays. We also celebrate cultures and conduct deep and meaningful cultural inquiry in each classroom as a part of our curriculum.
All School Meetings aka ASMs!
Led by students and guided by our Director of Social Emotional Learning, our monthly All School Meetings (ASMs) are connected to a theme and a graduate disposition (e.g. Native American Heritage Month + Empathy; Pride + Global Advocacy).
We celebrate at our ASMs with student Flipgrid videos and fun activities for all grade levels! These meetings have been held on Zoom and recorded over the past two years to make them more accessible to our whole community, including family and friends at home.