Committing to Equity and Inclusion

What is gained in the process of creation is of equal, if not greater, importance than the final product. This sentiment is true for our Statement of Commitment to Equity and Inclusion. This is the story of how our commitment statement came to be.

Ideals of inclusion, diversity, equity and justice are not new to Montcrest. The events of 2020, including the death of George Floyd highlighted our imperative to be transparent and active as an organization that is anti-racist and, more broadly, anti-oppressive to all who may be marginalized.

Montcrest took a slow, deliberate approach. We first sought to understand the current climate within our community through a thorough DEIJ audit conducted with the support of Future Design School. The timing of this audit coincided intentionally with the development of our strategic plan. This heightened and illuminated the necessary goals and actions that would be necessary for the Montcrest community in the immediate, mid and long term future.

A natural first step was to construct a commitment statement that could be used both internally and externally as part of policy and living practice. Committed, well researched and willing teachers have provided leadership in the writing process. Mara Berzins, Karen Tanod and Robyn Selvam have demonstrated openness, humility and integrity throughout the process of drafting the commitment statement. They worked with the support of DEI consultant Lisa Quattlebaum who assisted by asking questions and creating space for truth and clarity. Input from faculty, staff and leaders, namely through the Strategy Working Group, Anti-Oppression and Equity Group and Pluralism Committee at various points of the drafting process, was essential to the work.

Our next step was to take this work to the broader group of faculty and staff for consensus. In the process, we thought about the commitment statement through the lens of three questions:

• Do we understand it?
• Can we live with it?
• Would we defend it in public?

Following faculty and staff feedback, we sought out experts in various fields to further push our thinking and clarity in the statement. Each person brought their personal and professional perspective, allowing us to reflect critically. We are grateful for the contributions from the following:

• Amanda Kirby (Founder, Do it Profiler)
• Fred Martin (Indigenous Knowledge Keeper and Communications Specialist)
• Jody Williams (Indigenous Education Consultant)
• Lee Airton (Associate Professor, Queens University)
• Legal Representatives from BLG

At each point of feedback, a fine tuning and increased clarity in the message and intention have been achieved. Of greatest importance is the spirit of action in the document. Not intended to be static, we commit to review and continue to maintain momentum in intent and action. As we continue to socialize the commitment with our broader community, we fully anticipate and appreciate further feedback to inform future iterations of this document.

Our current commitment statement is deeply connected to our current strategic plan. As a school, we are trying to do two things- foster an inclusive community and empower personalized learning. We appreciate the interconnectedness of the two and know that they must be built simultaneously, not sequentially.

It is our belief that our Statement of Commitment to Equity and Inclusion is a linchpin for our future success. It is a bridge between our community and each individual. It is also a connection between the education program and the operational components of our school.