The Dallas ISD Racial Equity Office is holding a series of community meetings and events to further its mission of identifying and removing obstacles to create a level playing field for all students to succeed.
The REO Tuesdays are being held in the four quadrants of the city. The meetings consist of an introduction of REO, its staff and mission; highlights of what the office has and is doing; and a structured open forum for attendees to voice their observations, needs and concerns as related to racial, socioeconomic and educational inequities within Dallas ISD.
The next REO Tuesdays happening 6–7:30 p.m. are scheduled for:
- Nov. 12 at L.G. Pinkston High School
- Dec. 3 at Conrad High School
REO Theater & Film Series: Challenging conversations through art
Meanwhile, REO is also hosting a series of film and theater showings throughout the school year. The aim of the series is to host conversations related to racial, socioeconomic and educational inequities for students, families and community members throughout the district, using film or theater as a catalyst for conversation.
The first event is free and open to the community and happening Nov. 13 at W.E. Grenier Exploratory Arts Academy, 501 S. Edgefield Ave. People can reserve tickets at https://reofilmseries-greiner.eventbrite.com.
Attendees will watch a movie or theater production followed by a post-movie/theater discussion led by students of LULAC and NAACP youth chapters. The goal is to encourage participants to engage in sometimes uncomfortable discussion; challenge their mode of thought, beliefs and perspective; and ignite action to partnering with REO in addressing the inequities found in DISD and the greater Dallas school community.
Attendees at this event will watch the Cara Mia Theater production, “Ursula,” a play about the journey of a seven-year-old girl separated from her mother after seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border who, as she waits for her asylum to be processed, reflects on the difficulties she is leaving behind in Honduras and the new reality she is facing. This showing is intended for audiences 12 and over. REO is partnering with LULAC and LVEC to host this event, while also offering voter registration that evening (done by LVEC).
