Diversity and the Syracuse City School Board

It’s time for the two parties to choose candidates for the Syracuse City School Board – and the Democrats are struggling with how much “diversity” they will have in their line-up.  According to an article on Syracuse.com this morning, Democrats are facing pressure to nominate candidates of color.  Because the children in our schools are predominately students of color (only 26% of the students are white), advocates such as Walt Dixie of the Alliance Network are pushing for a choice of at least two candidates of color.   (The Democrats will nominate three).

The choice, according to Michelle Breidenbach and Paul Riede, of the Post-Standard, is between politically connected white candidates and up and coming candidates of color.  But it seems to me that this description of the choice is too simplistic – and misses the point.  It is not that we need people with a certain skin tone – we need people who understand that racism exists and seek to change that.  So, rather than looking at the box someone checks on a census form, a careful look at their activities, experience and attitudes.  With that in mind, I did some research and there are some real stand-outs in the field of candidates:

1.       Taino Palermo is dedicated to helping students make it through high school.  He’s formed a non-profit organization called Outliers, Inc., designed to help students who are not expected to succeed in our society do just that.  Taino is himself an “outlier” – a person who doesn’t fit the statistical expectations for his group – and he wants to help other “underserved, underrepresented urban youth” do the same.  What an excellent choice for the school board!

2.     Derrick Dorsey is the director of the CommunityWide Dialogue to End Racism (which organizes the annual Duck Race to End Racism) and also promotes Seeds of Peace, a camp in Maine that teaches young people how to resolve conflict. 

3.      David Cecile was principal of Henninger High School and, even though he lived in Brewerton at the time, brought his daughters to school there so they would grow up with diversity.  This shows a personal commitment to multiculturalism.

Now I haven’t told you what color these people are – does it matter?  If you know any of the candidates personally, I’d love to hear your input in the comments section below.  There is much more to a person than you can find on their resume.  But my main point is to choose candidates who will support our children, who understand the challenges children of color face, who believe that all children can succeed and will work to help them do just that. 

Your thoughts?