Mission Statement
The mission of Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is to support the equitable representation and participation of individuals from diverse communities and cultures in membership, leadership, collaboration and advocacy efforts through education, cultural appreciation, intersecting perspectives, and socio-cultural awareness.
Goals
Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs acknowledges that systemic oppression and injustice throughout United States history have led to deepening disparities and inequities across all sectors of our society. Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will affirm our stance against discrimination based on race, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and/or physical appearance.
- Commit to a systemic vision which supports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which will help our school communities thrive.
- Support Council and unit leadership which promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion representation in all SMMPTA units, on Council, and in the DEI committee.
- Prioritize building social and cultural awareness through collaboration and advocacy.
Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs affirms our dedication to all of our students, and commits to the pursuit of social justice and Anti-racism. In addition, we renew our commitment to fostering a culture of belonging—one that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in our schools and in our communities, to ensure that all children and youth have access to opportunities that support academic and socio-emotional development.
Misrepresented DEI Terms
Cultural Representation- Seeing yourself and the accomplishments, achievements, explorations, inventions, recognitions of those who look like you in mainstream culture like books, magazines, tv, textbooks, etc.
Assimilation- Giving up your identity to fit in with a group, society, club, etc.
Diversity- Acceptance, sharing and celebration of other cultures, religions, languages, customs, identities, orientations, etc.
Inclusion- Embracing diversity with open arms
Equity- Fairness and impartiality towards a person or group based on their needs
Equality- Equal rights, status, laws, opportunities for a for people within a society
Bias- A personal or prejudiced judgment against a person or group
Stereotype- A widely held and usually prejudicial assumption about a group as a whole
Discrimination- Unjust or prejudicial treatment of people based on sex, age, color, creed, sexual orientation, religion
Racism- Unjust treatment, marginalization, or discrimination against a group based on their race or ethnic group
Racist- a person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic toward people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized
Antiracist- According Ibram X. Kendi in How to be an Antiracist,
“Someone who is expressing an antiracist idea or supporting an antiracist policy with their actions.”
DEI Terms to Know
Code-switching- The practice of alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation
Colorism- Prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group
Genocide- The deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group
Inclusion- The practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of other minority groups.
Implicit Bias-
Land Acknowledgement- A formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories
Non-Binary- Not identifiying as male or female, but as other or “they”
Transgender- Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.
SMMUSD/SMMPTA Organizations + Acronyms
504 Plan- A set of accommodations, or changes in the classroom environment to help your child follow the regular curriculum
AAPSSG- African American Parent Student Staff Support Group
ASB- Associated Student Body
AVID- Advancement Via Individual Determination
BAAPAC- Black/African-American Parent Advisory Committee
BCL- Bilingual Community Liaison
BSU- Black Student Union
CAPTA- California Parent Teacher Association
DELAC- District English Learners Advisory Committee
ELAC- English Learner Advisory Committee
GSA- Gay/Straight Alliance
JAMS- John Adams Middle School
IEP- Individual Education Plan
LCAP DAC & PAC- Local Control Accountability Plan District Advisory Committee/Parent Advisory Committee
LGBTQ+- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and more
MECHA- Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán; “Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán
MHS- Malibu High School
PEMA- Parents, Estudiantes, y Maestros Asociación
PPBL- Personal Project Based Learning
PTA/PTSA- Parent Teacher Association/Parent Teacher Student Association
Samohi- Santa Monica High School
SEDAC- Special Education District Advisory Committee
SMASH– Santa Monica Alternative School House
SMEF- Santa Monica Education Foundation
SPED- Special Education
VAPA- Visual and Performing Arts
WRLC- Will Rogers Learning Community
PTA/PTSA DEI Links
A Parent’s Guide to Special Education / Special Needs: https://www.smmusd.org/Page/1431
National PTA: https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/Diversity-Equity-Inclusion
CAPTA: https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/Diversity-Equity-Inclusion
33rd District: https://www.33rdpta.org/diversity/
DEI Toolbox
- Take a look at your own thoughts, emotions, comments, biases, prejudices about the topic, person, group, or people and check them at the door before attempting a conversation with others when it comes to DEI.
- Don’t be “casually comfortable” in your approach to uncomfortable or controversial conversations. Be “courageously conscious” with your board, parents and yourselves. Do not shy away from speaking up or allowing tolerance of spoken & unspoken behavior that demeans, harms, shames or encourages an office culture that promotes racism, discrimination, biases, or exclusion on any level.
- Avoid colorblind phrases at all times.
- Listen to each other. Allow everyone’s feelings to be heard.
- Tap into your learning & listening language. What do you react or respond to? What emotions come up for you?Take a look at your own
- There is not a monolithic or monolingual way to approach conversations on representation, diversity, equity, inclusion or race, so it’s ok if you do not have all the answers.
- Equip yourself with the tools you may need to talk, share, etc. Do your research.
Work your way through- Completed, In Process, Next Steps…
Questions to consider-
- What can you do as a unit/council?
- What resources do you have access to as a unit/council?
- When do you do diversity, equity & inclusion work?
- Where can the information/knowledge be stored for future use?
- How do we collaborate at the Pre-K, ES, MS, HS, & Transition levels?
- How do we make sure this work continues beyond our school site/council/in the homes/community?
- Who will be responsible for preserving the work? As a council? Within each unit?