Safe and Inclusive Schools Program

Allies of all ages create safe and inclusive schools

We work together to consciously build our identities as allies who welcome, respect, validate, celebrate and protect people with diverse identities across race, ethnicity, nationality, socio-ecomonic class, physical and cognitive ability/challenge, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, language and more. 

When we witness harm, we show up in the moment when someone needs another person's voice or presence to interrupt the harm. Or we follow up to check on them after something happened.

We are inspired by historical examples of diverse people who have worked together for justice and peace. We affirm each other's diverse and intersectional identities and actively work together to build solidarity, systems of support and safety in our schools. Here are some examples of how we build our community of allies:

Our collaborative work

1. Building a positive and inclusive climate and culture in our schools and classrooms with community building activities and school-wide campaigns such as Solidarity Week

2. Teaching bullying and cyberbullying prevention lessons to build a common understanding about what bullying is and to practice ways to be an upstander 

3. Teaching inclusive lessons about diverse people in history, learning together about different identities, and reading about diverse characters; These activities help us dispel harmful stereotypes and develop a more complete understanding about people we work together with at school and who we may meet in the world

4. Responding as a community to hate-based behavior that might happen in our classrooms and schools including racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny and other forms of harassment or discrimination

5. Understanding and following California laws that protect the rights and safety of all youth, including some laws that address the specific needs and safety of LGBTQIA+ youth

6. Collaborating with our ally clubs such as Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and Rainbow Clubs to promote positive school environments and safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies