By Tori St. Johns, SafeSchools Desert Cities board member, DSUSD Student Assistance Program
It was truly inspiring to connect with so many passionate individuals dedicated to inclusivity and equity in our community at the recent Palm Springs Unified School District’s Third Annual Diversity and Racial Equity Conference – Allyship and Beyond. Safe Schools Desert Cities (SSDC) passed out over 250 backpacks, 300 rainbow sensory pads, scholarship information, and lots of candy. The highlight was having a young man, who attended Pride Camp, come over with his mother and share how attending the activities SSDC offers have saved his life. Angel’s story was powerful and it reinforced how important it is to continue providing a wide range of safe spaces and activities for LGBTQ+ youth.
Thank you Palm Springs Unified for the opportunity to be part of such an important free event, open to all members of the community. I look forward to continuing these conversations and working together toward our shared goals of diversity, inclusion and equity.
