Northeast Working to Foster 'Culture of Dignity' With MFEE Equity Grant

Earlier this year, Northeast Elementary School received a $10,000 MFEE Excellence in Equity grant to build stronger racial literacy across the school community, provide school-wide professional development to address racial bias and host a series of facilitated critical analysis groups.

As part of these efforts, Northeast hosted an April 23 discussion for parents and teachers around the book, "Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity," by Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple (the third in a series of book talks). Facilitated by first grade teacher Kiara Gary and fifth grade teacher Alison Campbell, this discussion involved small group activities, sharing, moments of reflection and brainstorming calls to action for the Northeast community.

“This grant took us into work and activities that I did not expect, and the word that keeps coming up is ‘belonging,’” Campbell said. “I hope to continue this work with my colleagues and the greater Northeast community. Hopefully, with the support of MFEE, the district and the Northeast PTA. I think there is a direct tie to our magnet, global studies, and I am excited for that work.”