On September 23, 82 district leaders from 32 districts convened at the Courtyard Marriott in Marlborough for REDI’s day-long session, From Vision to Impact, with Darnisa Amante-Jackson and Lee Teitel.
In the morning, participants dug deeply into common “enablers” and “obstacles” to moving from a vision of equity to action and impact. Individuals and teams first assessed the extent to which they and their team have already developed two “threshold conditions”:
- A personal and team equity culture that understands a shared “why”, uses common language, has looked together at some of its biases and triggers, and developed relational trust; and
- An understanding of what gets us “stuck” as a team and how to get unstuck by looking at individual and collective immunities to change, hidden commitments, and/or “SCARF” threats.
Participants also explored how they move the work forward into their schools and classrooms, using:
- A clear theory or rationale from big picture to measurable, actionable steps, e.g., SMARTIE goals;
- Skills and comfort level in using persuasive communication about race and equity; and
- Data for improvement (both process and process monitoring).
In the afternoon, participants examined and then began to apply a framework for engaging in persuasive conversations about race and equity. They:
- Uncovered four forms of “non-listening”: dismissing, creating silos, stereotyping, assumed ignorance;
- Looked at ways they might be contributing to polarization by “lumping”, assigning “good” and “bad” motives, and/or dismissing; and
- Began to explore how they might overcome their own internalized polarization.
M.A.S.S. is grateful to the REDI team for hosting this powerful day of learning and sharing about critical issues in racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Learn more about M.A.S.S. REDI here.