Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Articles

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  Embracing diverse populations helps Storm Lake grow

  A look at rural school districts in any direction will show that Storm Lake — a northwest Iowa city in Buena Vista County with a population between 10,000 and 15,000 — is in a very different position than its counterparts. Every district surrounding Storm Lake has a hyphenated name, indicating districts that have merged. As many of them face lon...
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  Lisa Kelly: Theatre Cedar Rapids roars on

  The morning of March 16, 2020, the production teams at Theatre Cedar Rapids sent out daily rehearsal calls for our three then-upcoming, concurrent shows. We had a classic play rehearsing in our downstairs studio theater, a contemporary play four days from opening in our auditorium and a 28-member musical cast in rehearsals upstairs. I was the di...
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  Claudia Schabel: Move this unfinished conversation forward

  Our world has a long history of conflict and conversation regarding humanity’s treatment of humanity. The current conversations about race, in particular, go back many, many years. Last year, the murder of George Floyd continued the debate about race in our country. In 2020, it’s estimated that between 16 million and 26 million people participat...
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  Iowa activists say their work is far from over

  In the time since the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, social justice movements across the United States and in other countries have formed and reformed to in efforts to gain visibility for their ideas and their goals. In Iowa, two groups, by way of example — only some 30 miles apart — have taken different approaches.
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  Bruce Teague: Seek, listen to, act on the voices of the people

  It seemed every day of 2020 presented a new situation. From the derecho to racial injustice to a pandemic, my first year as mayor of Iowa City taught me that no elected leader has all the answers, but every elected leader has the tools to get there — the voices of their people. I have always believed input from the community will yield more inno...
• Iowa Ideas 2020 replay: Affordable Housing Challenges

  Whether it's the derecho, coronavirus, or Iowa's rural housing challenges, finding affordable housing in Iowa will have a growing impact on Iowa's economy. What can communities do to help more projects get through the pipeline? Panelists include: Lauren Johnson, Polk County Housing Trust Fund; Stephanie Murphy, Cedar Rapids Neighborhood Finance ...
• Iowa Ideas 2020 replay: Immigrants in Iowa

  A look at the realities for immigrants arriving to Iowa and access to resources for success. Establishing a home, finding employment and connecting to a new community bring to light challenges that go unnoticed by many. Hear from panelists devoted to improving the process while recognizing the positive impact these individuals have to the state....
• Iowa Ideas 2020 replay: Closing Keynote with David M. Kennedy

  David M. Kennedy is the Executive Director of the National Network for Safe Communities, a project of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Mr. Kennedy and the National Network support cities implementing strategic interventions to reduce violence, minimize arrest and incarceration, enhance police legitimacy, and strengthen rela...
• Iowa Ideas 2020 replay: Closing the Achievement Gaps

  The achievement gap in education is the disparity in academic performance between groups of students. In Iowa, that's students with economic hardship, individualized education plans (IEPs), English as Second Language and Black and Hispanic students. How can we close those gaps? How big of an impact is COVID having? What efforts hold the most pro...
• Iowa Ideas 2020 replay: Food Insecurity in Iowa

  Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity was a major issue for families across the state. Then the pandemic came and has stretched many programs even further. How is food insecurity trickling into other aspects of life? What opportunities can Iowans adopt to help reduce the insecurity?iowaideas.com. Panelists include: Deann Cook, Unite...