Adopted October 2020 by the Board
Maplewood Parent Cooperative has a long history of innovation in education as parents, teachers and students work together inside and outside of the classroom. We are a strong community because our commitment to our kids is paramount, and as stated in our Mission Statement, we “foster a family-orientated program where children, teachers, and parents are equal participants in an enriched environment that nurtures a life-long love of learning and respects the uniqueness of each individual.”
It is through this commitment to every child in our community and as a public school that we recognize our need to work towards becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization. The Covid 19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter and racial justice uprisings have shone lights to inequalities and racism that surround us and have spurred accelerated learning and growth. To this end we seek to ensure that at our school, all students will be able to grow and thrive in an environment that cherishes them as diverse individuals and all families are encouraged and honored for their unique contributions.
We recognize this is not an easy nor straightforward task. We will need to create brave spaces to build our capacity as a parent organization to identify and address these areas. It is our goal to understand the structures which are oppressive to some of our families, especially families of color and act to implement change. Our plan involves educating ourselves so we can be responsive and affirming volunteers to the students we work alongside.
While these are not new conversations in our school, they have not necessarily been addressed in the urgent matter which it deserves. The Maplewood staff are currently involved in professional learning that addresses anti-racism and white supremacist norms in education. This year parents will have the opportunity to participate in a various change-making discussions including peacemaking circles, a study group using the podcast “Nice White Parents,” and the district offered Equity 101 Training.
Each of us has chosen Maplewood as their school because we believe in the power of community education. Let us embrace this opportunity to further our mission and ensure a just and equitable school for all.
