Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Fleming.
Hi Heather, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I spent 14 years as a teacher (at Vashon High School for two semesters and then at Parkway North High School for 13 years). I left teaching in May 2018 for equity training and development through my nonprofit In Purpose Educational Services. In April 2021, I learned that Rep. Nick Schroer had filed an anti-equity, anti-CRT bill in the legislature. I began a Facebook group so that educators and concerned citizens could discuss how we would go fight back. That group developed into the MO Equity Education Partnership. Our organization leads the fight for equity and equity education in every part of our communities. We do this work through a large group of volunteers passionate about building strong, diverse communities within our state.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has been a challenging road. Of course, we have the normal challenges that any new organization would have, such as funding and staffing. Still, ours is compounded by the disinformation consistently put out around our mission and purpose. When politicians and those in other positions of power activate fear and bias to keep their constituencies angry and misinformed, it makes the work harder.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about In Purpose Educational Services and MO Equity Education Partnership.?
In Purpose Educational Services provides specialized diversity, equity, and inclusion training to schools, businesses, and organizations that are custom designed to meet their needs. We offer training for people of all ages through various virtual and in-person events and classes. Our most comprehensive program is our Leaders in Equity, Antiracism, and Parity (LEAP) Institute, a comprehensive extended training curriculum designed to help organizations not only create an equity plan for the company to follow but to assist with a culture change that places equity at the center of policies, procedures, and practices. IPES has also partnered with Eye See Me Book Store to offer a Banned Book Program. Each month, we select three books (elementary, middle, and high school) for people to sign up to receive free of cost. They need to fill out the former, and we will send them one while supplies last. This program is dependent on donations. The MO Equity Education Partnership is an equity-based organization designed to defend and advocate for equity in all parts of our communities. With volunteers throughout the state, we work in a collaborative organizational model to activate and empower average citizens to do the advocacy work necessary to prevent or change harmful anti-equity policies, practices, and procedures.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Know my audience. We are living through yet another time of high polarization, and we must act urgently. I would love to be able to change every single heart and mind so that we all bend toward equity and justice. Still, for now, I must focus on mobilizing those willing to join me to change or prevent discriminatory policies.
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