RE Log Spring 2021

SPRING 2021 Ransom Everglades LOG 31 Anti-RacismTask Force The Anti-Racism Task Force was established to provide information, counsel and recommendations to the school’s leadership and the Ransom Everglades Board of Trustees Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The task force’s work focuses on promoting and ensuring an anti-racist educational and work environment at Ransom Everglades. The task force also focuses on creating a school community that is inclusive and in which all members can reach their full potential. There are three phases of its work: 1. Proposing short-term recommendations. This phase was completed in December 2020. 2. Developing three- to five-year goals and outcomes for becoming a model of diversity, equity and inclusion in the independent school world. A report is expected in late May 2021. 3. Recommending a communications process to ensure transparency and progress with respect to achieving goals. We recognize the significance of this work and the resources and commitment needed at all levels to ensure its success. The work needed to achieve the goals will be a multi-year process. In its letter on June 19 (Juneteenth), 2020, reBa made a number of REquests to support the school’s diversity and inclusion efforts, pushing the school to prioritize and fast-track work in three areas: REcruitment , REtention and REinforcement (task force named REsponsibility ) at Ransom Everglades. The task force added two additional pillars: REflect and REach as well as RElate. Among the first acts of the Anti-Racism Task Force was to adopt the REquests, using them to outline categories of work and create a road map for all future recommendations, including the final pillars and short- term recommendations shared on the succeeding pages. “We hear a lot about diversity and inclusion, but talking about it isn’t enough; we need to set definable goals and achieve them. That is hard work worth doing.” – Melissa Buckner “Raising two Black children and being a member of the education community, in a society whose history of equity remains wounded, is a humbling task. Recent initiatives taken up by RE are seeds for a transformative change. They are laudable and deserve invested support. I am motivated to partake in that story.” – Fiacre Bienvenu “I joined the Anti-Racism Task Force because I believe that as an educational institution, Ransom Everglades has a responsibility to create an inclusive environment and teach its students to be anti-racist. As a recent student who has already worked with leaders at school on DEI, I have insight on where the school is currently and hope to guide it to where it needs to be.” – Diego Duckenfield-Lopez ’20 Members of the Anti-RacismTask Force “Every member of the Ransom Everglades community deserves to walk onto our campus and feel seen and valued. I’m part of this endeavor to help bring about the necessary change that will promote a community of understanding, respect and belonging.” – Patrick Hession