District 88 students participate in Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!) series workshop

Top left and right: Addison Trail and Willowbrook students participate in a Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!) series workshop on Jan. 16. The goal of that program is to prepare students to recognize and learn from the diversity around them. Bottom: Pictured is a list of community agreements the students formed during the workshop.

On Jan. 16, about 100 students from Addison Trail and Willowbrook participated in a Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!) series workshop at Willowbrook.

That program is led by Benjie Howard and Wade Antonio-Colwell, and the goal is to prepare students to recognize and learn from the diversity around them. During the workshop, participants continued their learning of the stewardship movement and discussed ways in which they will apply their knowledge and skills in their schools and communities. The group will continue to meet throughout the school year, and the next session will take place on March 12.

District 88 formed an Equity Task Force in spring 2015 to further enhance the district’s cultural competency, and the YES! series was implemented to involve students in those efforts. Staff members also participated in Deep Equity training with Gary Howard with the Deep Equity Institute and Corwin. District 88 is committed to continuing this work with cultural competency and culturally responsive teaching for the inclusion, equity and excellence of all students.