We commit to doing this work with humility and in a spirit of curiosity and growth, and we accept that we will make mistakes. We welcome feedback as a resource for our learning and evolution. This section highlights a set of specific goals which we are sharing in an effort to be transparent and accountable.
1) Representation. End result we want: a team of instructors, volunteers, and board members that more accurately represents a) the population of Chicago and b) the communities we serve.
“Team of instructors and volunteers” includes:
This involves reviewing current recruitment process(es) to identify roadblocks for potential applicants, a specific understanding of which populations are currently under-represented on which teams, and the creation of recruitment plan(s) that focus on both attracting and meeting the needs of those populations.
2) Curriculum. End result we want: an actively anti-racist, inclusive curriculum.
“Curriculum” includes:
This involves ongoing assessment of our current curriculum to identify areas that may need improvement, and exploring the possibility of new initiatives (e.g., how might we offer workshops in languages other than English).
3) Communication. End result we want: external and internal communication aligned with anti-racist, inclusive principles.
“External” includes:
“Internal” includes:
This involves reviewing current external communication, continuing to educate ourselves on debiasing our language, and incorporating anti-racism discussions regularly into internal meetings and trainings.
“Team of instructors and volunteers” includes:
- Lead instructors (paid position)
- Suited instructors (paid position)
- Workshop leaders (paid position)
- Class assistants (volunteer)
- Other volunteers (volunteer)
This involves reviewing current recruitment process(es) to identify roadblocks for potential applicants, a specific understanding of which populations are currently under-represented on which teams, and the creation of recruitment plan(s) that focus on both attracting and meeting the needs of those populations.
2) Curriculum. End result we want: an actively anti-racist, inclusive curriculum.
“Curriculum” includes:
- Core Program
- IMPACT for Girls
- Advanced Programs
- IMPACT:Ability
- Workshops
This involves ongoing assessment of our current curriculum to identify areas that may need improvement, and exploring the possibility of new initiatives (e.g., how might we offer workshops in languages other than English).
3) Communication. End result we want: external and internal communication aligned with anti-racist, inclusive principles.
“External” includes:
- Website
- Social Media
- Promo materials
- “What is IMPACT”
“Internal” includes:
- Mission statement
- Key values
- Instructor Manual
This involves reviewing current external communication, continuing to educate ourselves on debiasing our language, and incorporating anti-racism discussions regularly into internal meetings and trainings.