Racial Equity Team Member
Role Description & Application
Duties
The Racial Equity Team will be a catalyst for change by increasing the focus on the root causes of inequitable opportunities and outcomes for children, families and early learning professionals. Racial Equity Team members will support DEL to intentionally embed a racial equity lens in policies and decision-making, organizational practices, and community engagement and communications to better serve children, families and the community.
Responsibilities/ Tasks
· Facilitate planning efforts and implementation of a racial equity lens in DEL programs, planning, practices and policy or budget development.
· Tailor and support use of analytical tools to identify and review equity impacts of programs, policies and decisions to amplify positive impacts and mitigate negative impacts.
· Support conversations, awareness-raising, and training on issues such as race, equity, and cultural and linguistic responsiveness.
· Exchange ideas, information, and participate in collaborative efforts between all DEL divisions to embrace equitable policies and practices.
· Support development of annual work plans by divisions and teams to apply and incorporate an equity lens and culturally and linguistically responsive practices.
· Contribute to the development of an annual report on the status and trends in equity efforts for DEL leadership, staff and the public.
Competencies
· Understanding of and commitment to continuously learn about equity, institutional and structural racism, and social determinants of health, education and life outcomes.
· Takes initiative and develops creative solutions to problems.
· Applies systems thinking and problem solving that are comprehensive and address root causes.
· Works collaboratively on teams.
· Takes responsibility for continued personal learning and agency/division/team learning around issues of equity, race and cultural humility.
· Facilitate collaborative partnerships and stakeholder engagement processes
Estimated Annual Time Commitment for each Team Member:
§ Monthly meetings (60 - 90 min): 90 minutes for first 3 - 4 months, then 1 hour meetings
§ Train the facilitator (2 full days): 10 hours
§ Planning, work groups & related work (~1 hour/week): 4 – 5 hours/month
§ Consultations and check-ins: 1 – 2 hours/month
§ Family, Community, Stakeholder and Division/Team meetings (events, input-gathering, planning, conversations and individual relationship-building): 3 - 4 hours/month
Application
If you are interested in joining the Racial Equity Team, please submit your responses to the following questions and statement of support to Evette Jasper at by October 26, 2016 and save the meeting dates below. Racial Equity Team members will be notified on November 1 and receive a pre-assessment survey to complete by November 7.
Ø Kick-off Meeting: November 9 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Ø Foundational Racial Equity Workshop: November 22 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Ø Deeper Racial Equity Workshop: December 8 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Statement of Support: Please include at least one statement from your supervisor, team or colleague supporting your participation. The letter should clearly convey the reason for the writer’s support of your participation and willingness to work with you on taking action to advance equity.
Name: Division:
Please describe your racial/ethnic background (Black or African-American; Native American or Alaska Native; White (not Hispanic or Latino); Hispanic or Latino; Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; Asian):
Briefly describe your role, influence and responsibilities at DEL.
Briefly describe your experience and interest in racial equity work.
Why are you interested in serving on the Racial Equity Team?
What personal or professional experiences do you have that help you understand structural and/or institutional inequalities for children and families?
What are your skills and strengths, and how do you see yourself contributing to DEL’s efforts to advance racial equity in early learning?
Can you commit to a monthly meeting with additional time scheduled as needed for planning, training and work groups? If not, please explain your potential barriers, so we can plan on how to address them.
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