How was The Equity Taskforce founded?

In January of 2021, Katelyne Thomas, then a teacher at Mason Public Schools, requested to use materials from Black Lives Matter at School, a leading resource vetted and supported by the National Education Association and the Michigan Education Association, for Black History Month. MPS administration denied her request and reprimanded her. Following this, Katelyne submitted her resignation, citing that she could no longer work for a District that did not hold values aligned with hers. As a parent of three bi-racial children, Katelyne wanted to create positive and inclusive change in Mason. After reading about Katelyne’s story in the Detroit Free Press, Rhiannon Klein, a Policy and Advocacy Consultant, reached out to Katelyne to offer expertise. Together they formed The Equity Taskforce, now managed by a board of directors as a 501(c)3 non-profit. 

What has The Equity Taskforce accomplished?

Over its first year, The Equity Taskforce has grown to 400+ community members; advocated at dozens of School Board Meetings; inspired civic engagement; provided free professional development opportunities for educators; and hosted numerous events, including Mason’s first-ever PRIDE celebration, a Day of Visibility on the anniversary of George Floyd’s death (in partnership with Holt and Waverly schools), a school and student supply drive, an educational LGBTQ+ 101 webinar, and a series of children’s storytimes.

What are the current asks of The Equity Taskforce?

  • MPS prioritizes DEI as a foundational cornerstone throughout the district. 

  • MPS creates a full-time DEI position embedded in the community in place of a part-time remote consultant.   

  • MPS engages the community with the work and decisions of the MPS Diversity Committee. 

  • MPS creates a reporting and tracking mechanism for the use of policy 2240 (controversial topics). 

  • MPS utilizes State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECH) for DEI professional development.

    *asks are updated as the work progresses.

How can you help The Equity Taskforce?

  • Get engaged with local officials! Attend school board meetings and make your voice heard at public comment or via email to the Board of Education. Need help doing so? Our team can help you put your thoughts to paper. 

  • Vote! Get involved in local elections that impact your every day. 

  • Join us as a volunteer. Help us plan events, create educational content for social media, build community relations, compile resources, and more.  

  • Share your thoughts. We love hearing from fellow community members. Express your comments, concerns, or great ideas anytime.

  • Give Back! Your generous donations will help build a more inclusive Mason.