Resolution for Addressing Institutional and Systemic Racism

West Mercer PTSA is committed to advocate for institutional and systemic changes that ensure equity, justice, respect, and inclusion of all children. West Mercer PTSA strives to be anti-racist. We welcome all voices – and seek to learn from our community.

Advocacy is a key pillar of West Mercer PTSA's mission. We will work to influence the Mercer Island School District and our greater political systems in identifying, acknowledging, and acting upon the challenges of marginalized communities. We are evaluating our organization and strategic priorities to prioritize diversity and inclusion. West Mercer PTSA will work harder to: ensure that all children have safe and supportive learning environments; eliminate all forms of violence to ensure the safety of students, staff, and communities; and advocate for the health, well-being, inclusion, and education of every child.


Resolved, that West Mercer PTSA commits to being an anti-racist organization by:

Educating our PTA members on issues related to anti-racism through hosting parent education events, learning from Black leaders and other leaders of color in our community and beyond, providing anti-racism books and resources for families, and by educating our Board Members in anti-racist practices.
Actively working with our local PTA units, nomination committees, and the Mercer Island School District ​to recruit for BIPOC role models​ in a variety of staff and leadership roles.
Actively working to welcome the voices of our families of color and those furthest from educational justice by engaging with families on a consistent basis and by providing a safe space for dialogue and community.

Actively working to make all our board, committees meetings and events inclusive and welcoming to families furthest from educational justice and families of color, including working to bring voices of families of color into the leadership of our organization.

Actively working to listen to our families of color, educate ourselves on issues our community faces, and evolve our PTA’s anti-racist actions to meet the most pressing needs.
Actively working within our schools, the Mercer Island School District, the City of Mercer Island, and the State of Washington to promote equitable funding models.

Actively working within our schools and the Mercer Island School District​ to implement identity bias in incident reports and provide opportunities for culturally sensitive interventions and training.
Actively work with the Mercer Island School District to promote the adoption of evidence-based SEL programs, in particular at the elementary level, that are rooted in students being inclusive and empathetic of one another.

Actively working within our schools, the Mercer Island School District, and the State of Washington to promote the creation and implementation of anti-racist and culturally responsive curriculum, to continue evaluating and updating the curriculum with an anti-racist lens to meet the needs of all students, including the inclusion of Black, Brown, Asian and other non-white, contributions to our shared history.

Actively working within our schools, the Mercer Island School District, the City of Mercer Island, and the State of Washington to provide opportunities and funding for ongoing and anti-racism training for all staff members, in particular, to support the availability of equitable educational opportunities and to cease racist disciplinary practices and other exclusionary practices.