Royal Oak Schools highlights DEI programs: Journeys, IFLC, Odysseys and DAPCEP registration
Summary
The district’s DEI coordinator reported on summer and back‑to‑school activities including the Interfaith Leadership Council Journeys program, Odysseys evening series, and statewide STEM opportunities via DAPCEP; students gave testimonials about multi‑faith learning experiences.
At the Sept. 11 meeting the board heard a report from the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion team about fall programming and community partnerships, including the Interfaith Leadership Council (IFLC) Journeys program, an evening series called Odysseys, and registration opening for DAPCEP (the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program).
DEI presenter Miss Phillips summarized launch‑into‑learning DEI sessions for staff, a belonging survey from the family welcome‑back event, and the IFLC annual impact meeting. She said her launch sessions focused on cultural‑responsive teaching, implicit bias, microaggressions, courageous conversations and staff self‑care. She encouraged families to use the district dispatch for program flyers and registration links.
Student voices: The board played short student testimonials from Journeys participants. Ari Solomon, who identified themself as an incoming eighth‑grade student at Royal Oak Middle School, told the board Journeys “was eye‑opening” and praised the program for exposing students to different religions and cultures. Other students described improved empathy and ongoing friendships formed through Journeys.
Community programs: Miss Phillips described Odysseys as an evening series for community members and families who want the Journeys experience outside the seventh‑grade cohort; the first Odysseys session was scheduled for Sept. 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. She also noted DAPCEP’s fall registration was open (DAPCEP, a long‑standing STEM enrichment program, maintains materials and sign‑ups at dapcep.org) and encouraged families to enroll students in low‑ or no‑cost camps and courses. District staff thanked volunteers and local partners who staffed the family welcome event and supported DEI outreach.
Why it matters: Board members said Journeys and related programs develop student empathy, communication skills and cross‑cultural understanding and help the district meet goals for belonging and staff development.
