OCTELA’s Commitment to People of Color & Cultural Diversity

Be it resolved that the Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (OCTELA) recognizes the unique challenges we have faced as a society, particularly in the United States with its troubling history and systemic racism that continues to affect all minorities, particularly  Black Americans. Yet, we also recognize that other minorities have faced significant and unjust discrimination, such as Indigenous, Asian, and Latinx peoples. Further, we recognize the unique position literacy educators have in the pursuit of justice and equity because of the power of language to counteract racism and injustice through the sharing of voices and the building of empathy. Therefore, it is now the policy of the OCTELA to ensure the increased cultural diversity of our state’s educational institutions. The recruitment, retention, and active leadership of People of Color in OCTELA will contribute to the diversity of the organization’s membership. A diverse membership will increase the effectiveness of OCTELA. We believe that all educators must: (1) build cultural competence; (2) foster the funds of knowledge students bring to educational spaces; and (3) be responsive to the needs of racially and culturally diverse students within their instructional practices.

Be it resolved that:

• OCTELA will provide increased representation of People of Color at all possible levels of the organization through recruitment, retention, and community involvement;

• OCTELA will be intentional about being visible in spaces where People of Color work;

• OCTELA will create a welcoming and safe environment where People of Color feel heard and valued by inviting third-party consultants to help build trust between the Executive Board and members;

• OCTELA will create programming that elevates the voices and experiences of People of Color by actively recruiting presenters, authors and experts of color for our member outreach, including conferences, workshops and training; 

• OCTELA will actively seek partnerships with community and education organizations that work for equity and justice for all students; 

• OCTELA will provide its members with workshops and convention sessions that address anti-racism and inclusive practices in educational spaces;  

• OCTELA is committed to empowering our members to have community conversations about racial justice, and providing ongoing training for members that will  promote empathy and produce intentional, action-oriented responses to these ongoing conversations; 

• OCTELA will provide its members with resources and connections to organizations, including a presence on the official website and social media platforms, that supports members in inclusive and antiracist work within their educational spaces; and

• OCTELA will provide verbal and visual materials that reflect this inclusiveness.