A Date with Diversity- Leveraging Community Connections for Student Success & Well-being

This is a special invitation for you to join the OCDSB on Wednesday, April 29th, as one of our special guest presenters to share your personal and/or professional experiences on an individual aspect and/or intersecting dimensions of diversity.

As part of its commitment to serve an increasingly diverse student, staff and parent populations, this is the third year that the OCDSB has created an open space dialogue to provide our staff, students and community representatives the opportunity to expand their understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion with a focus on how to value, strengthen and leverage the connection between communities and schools to foster student and staff success and well-being.   To this end, A Date with Diversity provides our participants the opportunity to ask colleagues and community guests  representing different aspects or dimensions of diversity any questions they may have about their experiences and insights into our ongoing conversation:  what are the conditions necessary to foster a more equity an inclusive culture to support learning, well-being and a sense of belonging for the OCDSB community?

Using a diversity cafe model, there will be three 30 minute rounds where you will be seated at a table with 7-9 participants.  During the first 15 minutes, you will share your story and reflections on how to foster a more equitable and inclusive culture.  The remaining 15 minutes will be open for participants to ask questions about what you have shared.  At the end of each 30 minute round, the MC will invite your next group of participants to join you in conversation.

Past presenters and participants have shared how special this evening has been for them.  One presenter shared:

Sharing stories from a story teller perspective was opening, engaging, deepening and comforting to connect in such a simple sharing and yet simultaneously complex way – with, well strangers.  I feel empowered, inspired, heard and full of passion to continue on with my support and engagement with the OCDSB.

And, one of our participants noted:

Thank you for an excellent and well-planned conference. It got me to do some research on how to be more culturally responsive in my teaching.

A Backgrounder is attached with additional information.  If you are interested in being one of our guest presenters, please respond to me with a 75 word bio by Thursday, April 9th.

I trust that you will accept our invitation to continue the learning in our district as we continue to build capacity to serve an increasingly diverse student, staff and parent populations.

Jacqueline Lawrence

Diversity & Equity Coordinator

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

133 Greenbank Rd.

Ottawa, Ontario

K2H 6L3

jacqueline.lawrence@ocdsb.ca