On a sunny March afternoon in YWCA’s Sunridge Youth Learning Center, students proudly chanted “I am unique, and that’s beautiful,” while designing their own distinctive flowers to be planted in the class’s “diversity garden.” Once complete, the “garden” was full of flowers, all unique in their own individual way. In an effort to celebrate diversity and impart the importance of equity and inclusion, Community Engagement Manager Jamila Green facilitated a class lesson called “The ABC’s of DEI” with Sunridge students.
In order to further YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, it is critical that we sow the seeds of empathy, respect, and understanding in our next generation. YWCA’s Youth Programs provide free, year-round, out-of-school programming for students from low-income communities in eight Youth Learning Centers across Mecklenburg and Union Counties. In addition to developing their literacy skills, YWCA’s Youth Programs aim to empower our students to think critically about the world around them and to develop a holistic sense of self.
Sunridge students learning about equity through an exercise in height differences.
So when Jackie Hubbard, assistant coordinator at Park Road Youth Learning Center, had a student ask her about the upcoming election, their confusion around the concepts of equality and differing perspectives sparked an idea to bring these big ideas of diversity, equity and inclusion to their level as elementary schoolers. “I was thinking, how can we talk about these complex topics differently, and what is ‘fair’ on a kid’s level? How can we help our students understand their own perspectives?” shared Jackie Hubbard.
A student reading All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold aloud to the class.
Born out of a desire to equip students with the knowledge and language to understand the world around them, Jamila Green developed the lesson “The ABC’s of DEI” for YWCA’s students. The lesson led students through what each term means to them and what it looks like in their lives. To celebrate diversity, students learned how diversity does not only include the physical characteristics they see in themselves and their classmates, but also includes thoughts and beliefs. Together, they repeated the mantra, “I am unique, and that’s beautiful,” while showing off their own flowers to the class. By together creating a “diversity garden” and seeing uniquely decorated flowers all together, they saw how their own individual identities make them unique in a beautiful way that deserves to be celebrated.
To help students understand the concept of equity, Jamila picked two students, one short and one tall, and held a piece of candy above their heads at a height only the taller student could reach. Students lamented, “that’s not fair!” until Jamila pulled out a stool, which when the shorter student stood on it, brought them to the same height and in comfortable reach of the candy. Although a second grader can’t quite yet understand the complexities of structural racism in our society, students were able to connect with equity and how it plays into their life by recognizing that each person has different circumstances and we may need to allocate resources and opportunities differently to reach equal outcomes.
Sunridge’s “diversity garden,” complete with flowers designed by each student.
And lastly, to break down “inclusivity” in kid-friendly terms, students took turns reading aloud All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, a book that celebrates diversity in a school setting where everyone is welcomed with open arms. Inclusivity, as Jamila shared, means making sure there is room for everyone to play, live and exist, where no one feels left out or excluded. All students had the opportunity to contribute, no matter their reading level, making for a fun, interactive read-along experience.
At a time when the words “diversity, equity and inclusion” are divisive, YWCA stands strong in our mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. As we grapple with these complex terms ourselves as adults in society, it is imperative we help provide the tools for our young students to be well-rounded citizens and critical thinkers. By nurturing empathy and understanding in our youth, we pave the way for a future where everyone is celebrated for who they are, and where equity and inclusion thrive.
