Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at MUSE Global
Here at MUSE Global, we prioritize creating an environment that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. We’ve made it our mission to prepare our students to live well and with openness in this amazingly diverse and ever-changing world. In order to celebrate diversity, we must also promote equity and inclusion to be sure that all of our community feels heard, seen, and appreciated. Our differences are what make us unique and add value to every single individual in our MUSE community.
The Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Ensuring quality education for all is a top priority – and truly, at the end of the day, couldn’t we all use a little more acceptance and togetherness in our lives? We begin with DEI because it not only is our mission, but also because it is something that impacts every single person in this community on a daily basis. We begin with DEI because recognizing, understanding, and appreciating all of our differences, is what makes a community like ours possible.
Diversity is expressed in a myriad of forms, including race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origin, values, religious commitments, age, (dis)ability status, and political perspective.
Equity is equal opportunity for all persons. Being equitable means not discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status.
Inclusion ensures differences are welcomed, different perspectives are respectfully heard, and every individual feels a sense of belonging.
Diversity fosters empathy, and by promoting it within the school, we can counter the discrimination and stereotypes that students may be exposed to elsewhere. Creating personal connections with peers, teachers, parents, mentors, and friends who have different customs and cultures allows students to relate to others who may see the world differently. These positive connections encourage students to develop acceptance and respect for other and differing viewpoints. Collaborating with others while also paying attention to their social and emotional needs is key to understanding their place in a world full of inequities, and inspiring them to make a change.
The world is an incredibly diverse place, and understanding this through childhood immersion makes for a simpler, more natural celebration of others. Exposure to different ideas and ways of living also fosters creativity, problem-solving, and innovation, while encouraging students to think more critically about their own viewpoints and beliefs.
Our Goals
We’ve got three main goals in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at MUSE Global.
- That every department member attends at least three workshops relating to implicit bias, gender bias, inclusion, and anti-racism.
- That our teachers are supported in developing curriculums via an anti-racist, anti-bias lens.
- That we establish and practice common language and standards within our classrooms, at school meetings and conferences, in all of our communications (emails, progress reports & blueprints, calendar events, etc.) to equip our team with the tools necessary to engage with DEI-related concepts and conversations.
With these goals in mind, we hope to simultaneously honor our different cultures and identities and to ensure that conflicts within this space are dealt with appropriately, promoting harmony and acceptance above suspicion and discrimination.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committees
To achieve these goals, we’ve formed three Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees: the DEI Curriculum Committee, the DEI Continuing Conversations Committee, and the DEI Core Committee.
- The Curriculum Committee works to ensure diverse topics are interwoven into students’ coursework and lesson plans and provides resources to advocate for equity within the classroom.
- The Continuing Conversations Committee creates spaces and events for the MUSE Global staff to consider their own diversity, and to work together to actively challenge social injustices.
- Finally, the Core Committee brings the two other committees together with MUSE’s leaders to achieve our DEI goals within the broader community.
All three committees encourage open discussion and collaboration regarding any DEI-related matter. Together, the DEI Committees are responsible for ensuring that all of our MUSE community members can thrive, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or ability.
We believe that different identities should be celebrated, and that every student, teacher, parent, faculty member, administrator, and community member deserves to be seen, heard, and feel safe within the group. We want the MUSE community to be uplifted by the things that make them unique and special. We also want our colleague to be actively anti-racist, anti-homophobic, anti-transphobic, anti-sexist, and anti-ableist in our shared world.
We strive to cultivate an environment full of leaders and allies in eradicating the phobias that keep us down as individuals and as a society.
Read more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at MUSE Global.
