Come join us at this month’s Affinity Groups! Affinity Groups are a member led space that provides a unique opportunity to build a cross-campus community. They are an intentionally safe space for staff to come together with people who have the same identity (race, gender, sexual orientation, social class, ability, family structure).
You can join using the Teams links below this Thursday at 4:30 pm:
Intersectional Affinity Groups will be held the 2nd Thursday of each month at 4:30. You can add this event to your calendar: Intersectional Affinity Groups.ics so that you don’t miss a meeting!
Affinity Groups are led by staff for staff and develop a sense of belonging as people deconstruct their personal experiences, develop open trusting relationships, and create a learning community with their peers. Watch this video to learn more about Affinity Groups.
Did you know that some Affinity Group leaders are also DEI liaisons at their school? DEI Liaisons facilitate diversity, equity, and inclusion development on their campus. They are dedicated to integrating DEI work into existing school systems through youth, family and staff collaboration and engagement in order to foster an inclusive environment. Here are just a few things the DEI liaisons have been up to:
- Work with their campus on crafting & implementing DEI initiatives for staff,
- Envision DEI initiates for students and families
- Deliver and support professional development that provides staff with knowledge, skills, and mindsets to support DEI
We’re highlighting DEI Liaisons from across the network throughout the year. This month, we’re highlighting College View MS Liaison and Affinity Group leader Shannon Feeney!
Originally from Chicago, Shannon moved to Denver two years ago. She started in education in 2009 as a DC Region TFA corps member, worked on staff at TFA in Chicago, led the MS at a K-8 health & wellness school, and now loves being an ASD at CVMS. She is also a proud former staff member of the 2012 Obama campaign!
In her spare time, Shannon loves reading, craft cocktails, Broadway musicals, coffee shops, and learning new things. But while she’s at DSST, her passion for adult development, racial justice and equity work is perfectly aligned with her work. Says Shannon- “Education is not divorced from all of the other systems of oppression in our country, but I believe it can be a powerful tool we can leverage to disrupt the status quo and create change.”
CV MS has a DEI goal for the 20-21 school year to deeply engage in the ongoing reflective work of identity exploration, and developing critical lenses for diversity, equity and inclusion practices in our classrooms and spheres of influence. Staff will be able to develop their own racial literacy skills and develop an everyday race consciousness which will enable them to counteract racial inequity and injustice on a daily basis. Students will ultimately feel supported, seen, and honored, and for classrooms to be seen as a homeplace where they can be their full and authentic selves.
