How to Go Back to School Inclusively

With diversity and inclusion issues dominating the news cycle, many parents, caregivers and educators are wondering how to create inclusive spaces and continue inclusive conversations with young people this back to school season. From the removal of AP African American Studies in some school districts, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, book bans, drag queen performance restrictions to looming threats of gun violence in schools, young people are growing up in unprecendented times. They also are highly likely to support issues on inclusion.

In an interview with Ericka Young, board member of the Little Allies, a non-profit dedicated to facilitating inclusion for young people said, “when we learn about different types of people, abilities, household dynamics, etc. early, the conversation becomes a natural part of how we move through life. Many of us have waited to learn the language until we come face to face with injustice. Little Allies aims to educate anyone who invests in the lives of children so that we have dynamic, inclusive, and diverse spaces where our children can thrive long-term.”

If you care about issues of diversity and inclusion as many young people do, back to school time is a great way to reset the conversation about inclusion and create inclusive spaces for young people to be their best selves at home and in the classroom.

Consider these ideas to start an inclusive conversation with young people in your life:

Start with the why

Think about why diversity and inclusion are important to you and to the young people in your life. Is it because you experienced some adversity due to the lack of inclusion as a child or adult, or has someone in your life you know has been adversely affected? Perhaps it is about the next generation not having to deal with the same issues as your generation did.

Bridge empathy

Everyone has different lived experiences and we can never fully understand those that are not our own. Empathy is a great tool to better understand the lived experiences that you yourself have not had. If you’re a white person, it is unlikely that you will ever fully understand the lived experiences of people of color. As someone that identifies as a cisgender male, you may not understand the lived experiences of women or those with different gender identities. Expressing empathy rather than making assumptions can help close this gap.

Inspire curiosity

It is impossible to be judgemental when we are curious. Model curiosity by asking “what makes you think that” or “I wonder…” with young people. You will learn much more about their feelings and attitudes on diversity and inclusion issues.

Ask before assuming

Consider asking “do you want me to listen or do you want me to help?” when confronting something hard with a young person. It is likely they prefer listening rather than being told what to do. This can help especially in bullying situations in teaching children to advocate for themselves while supporting them.

Diversify your media

Review your book shelf, music collection and movies you watch and ensure a rich variety of characters. Most people consume media of those that look like them due to our own affinity bias to gravitate towards people like us. Learning about other cultures and people limits fear and encourages young people to explore and learn more about others.

Check your biases

Question your own assumptions asking “how do I know that is true?” and consider taking the Implicit Association Test to learn more about your biases. All humans have some bias and we pass it down onto young people if we don’t proactively manage it.

Get out in your local community

Find organizations that support diversity and inclusion and donate and volunteer with young people. A shared experience can remove barriers to important conversations about inclusion and show children that others may not have the same circumstances or choices as they do.

Share your story

Tell a story about a time you felt different or did not belong and inspire other young people to share their stories. Storytelling is our default human communication system and has helped us learn lessons and survive in our evolution. Rather than just explain facts and figures, share stories to learn and grow together as allies.

Diversify your network

Think about who you invite into your home and who you spend the most time with – are they like you? Consider broadening your network to include people of different backgrounds and experiences. Children pick up on who we spend time with and model it in their social circles.

Keep showing up

This is not a one time conversation. Allyship is a journey, not a destination. Keep a running list of topics and ideas and continue to show up for our next generation of little allies. They are paying attention to our behavior every day.

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Previously published on FORBES.COM and is republished on Medium.

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