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LPS student equity cadre presents state of diversity address; urges continued use of student voices
Summary
Student members of the Lincoln Public Schools Scholar Equity Cadre presented an annual 'state of diversity' address, highlighted community outreach and statewide summits, and urged the board to continue elevating student voice.
Members of the Lincoln Public Schools Scholar Equity Cadre presented an abridged “state of diversity” address Tuesday, offering a year‑long summary of the student group’s work and asking the board to continue use of student leaders in district decision‑making.
Peter Ferguson, the district adviser for the cadre, introduced the group and noted the cadre’s current form dates to 2019. Student speakers described three themes guiding their work: building community and momentum, advancing equity within and beyond LPS, and setting future direction. Lafa Ahmed, a junior at Lincoln North Star, said the group framed its work around two questions: “How are LPS students seeing, feeling, and thinking about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in schools?” and “How are scholars being impacted by the current LPS school climate?”
Students listed activities from the year: story times in partnership with Lincoln City Libraries and local day‑care centers (including vocabulary exposure in Spanish, Arabic and American Sign Language); a school‑level equity cadre at Irving Middle School focused on inappropriate language and jokes; and the cadre’s role in producing the Building Bridges and Making Connections Inclusion Summit and the Greater Than 1 District Inclusion Empowerment Summit, which the students said expanded the group’s reach into western Nebraska.
Board members praised the presentation and asked how the cadre reaches younger students. Student speakers pointed to the library story‑time events as a primary outreach tool, and the board discussed the possible value of a student member on the board. Cadre leaders said student board membership would improve communication with peers and make district meetings more visible to students. The cadre asked the board to continue to “utilize the scholar equity cadre and similar groups to help amplify the voices of underrepresented communities.”
The board thanked the cadre for the presentation and acknowledged the advisers and alumni who support the program.
