Inclusive Connections Parent Spaces

*Name changed for anonymity

Last spring, Rachael Blansett, the Diversity Equity Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Director for the Oyster Corporative River School District (ORCSD), created a group for the parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ students. The purpose of the space was to give parents the opportunity to ask questions and connect with others through shared experience. Now, with the addition of a multicultural parent space, both Inclusive Connections groups have picked up this fall, and are continuing to make a positive impact

Blansett facilitates both groups, Parents and Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Youth, and Multicultural Youth. She’s proud of the connections made, saying, “I think just having a space for them to share their concerns, ask questions that I think maybe they might feel are silly or dismissed by other folks. That’s the core of these spaces, to hopefully offer resources, share knowledge and build community.”

Alyssa O’Brien, a parent in the district, has attended the fall LGBTQ+ meetings and believes in the value of a dedicated space for these parents. “Even if families aren’t using it or aren’t going, just knowing that it’s something that at least even a small group of people in the district have decided is valuable enough to exist, that in and of itself tells a story to other people who maybe aren’t attending the group.”

O’Brien has attended the meetings out of support and curiosity, rather than personal experience with her own children. “My kids are too young for me to know if they’re somewhere on that spectrum or at least they haven’t expressed it to me yet. So I just think it’s really important for families and for kids to feel like there’s a supportive space in our community for them.”

Though the Inclusive Connections groups have been small, their impact had inspired the addition of the multicultural parent group this fall. Blansett said, “I think at times because our culture in the district is so homogeneous, it can feel really isolating, and especially for parents who might not be exposed to or have access to [other] parents who have children identifying the same.”      Kate Foster* attended the multicultural youth parent space. She hoped to not only make connections, but to be a support to other families who might be struggling as hers has in the past. “Our family has been targets throughout the years of some bullying, some racist incidents, within the high school or just within the school district, and in addition, having a kid who’s multiracial in a predominantly very, very white school can feel a little bit isolating.”

Foster works closely with DEIJ and feels that spaces like these, meant to encourage connection and support throughout the community, are a step in the right direction. “Creating communities where everybody feels a sense of connection, support, belonging, it’s really important to me in and out of my personal life and professional life. So I wanted to be able to offer anything I could, but then also connect with other families.”

Through feedback from parents, and contributions from Ry Friese, a co facilitator of the LGBTQ+ parent space, Blansett has incorporated mini-lesson plans and resources on these topics into the meetings. She explained, “for example, with the LGBTQ+ space, I had kind of a brief presentation of going over pronouns, how to ask for pronouns, talking about common myths expressed around the LGBTQ plus community.”

Blansett said, “Even outside of what I plan for the space, I really focus on ‘this is your space.’ It’s for the parents, it’s for the caregivers.”
Moving forward, the groups’ next meetings will be in January as they continue to meet monthly.

– Elise Bacon