Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

LEE is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and works diligently to lift up the leadership of staff and members who represent communities most directly impacted by the injustice of educational inequity. We aim to foster a workplace rooted in the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that we also seek in our communities. As such, we value each LEE member and staff member’s unique background and experiences and believe these differences will help strengthen the movement for educational equity. Staff receive ongoing professional development related to the knowledge, skills, mindsets and behaviors necessary to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization.

Our "All Voices" core value

"All Voices" is one of LEE’s six core values. We will succeed in our mission only if we actively engage all of our members and work side by side with communities to bring the full diversity of solutions and perspectives to these challenges. In particular, we actively seek to include individuals who share the racial and economic backgrounds of students most directly impacted by educational inequity, because they bring an essential perspective that has traditionally been underrepresented in politics and policy.

Resource groups

Staff members who share an aspect of identity come together to build social and professional networks, create a forum for development, and gain insight into key organizational initiatives. Current groups include:

• Asian & Pacific Islander American Resource Group 
• African American Resource Group 
• Latinx Resource Group 
• LGBTQ Resource Group 
• White Resource Group 

Diversity statement

LEE seeks to enlist our nation’s most promising leaders in the movement to eliminate educational inequity, and we know these leaders will be diverse in ethnicity, race, economic background, ability and more. Their places on the political spectrum and their religious beliefs will be similarly varied, and we seek individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Maximizing the diversity, equity and inclusiveness of our organization is important so that we can benefit from the talent and energy of all those who can contribute to this effort, and also to increase the opportunity for engagement in the circles of influence in our tremendously diverse society.

Moreover, we seek to be diverse, inclusive and equitable because we aspire to serve as a model of the fairness and equity of opportunity we envision for our nation. At the same time that we value each individual who commits to our cause, we also place a particular focus on attracting and fostering the leadership of individuals who share the racial and/or economic backgrounds of the students we serve. We emphasize racial, ethnic and economic diversity to enhance our impact. We believe the perspectives of those most impacted by educational inequity bring critical leadership to this movement.

As a result of our investment in diversity, inclusion and equity, we seek to enable our staff to work effectively across lines of difference. Through a variety of resource groups, diversity programming and conversations, we celebrate our different backgrounds and create the space to learn from one another.