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Please explain how <br />your organization <br />ensures diversity, <br />equity, inclusion, and <br />accessibility in its <br />programs and <br />operations. <br />Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are interwoven in Musical <br />Empowerment’s mission and strategic plan. W e have initiated partnerships <br />with The Equity Paradigm, The Refugee Support Network, and Racial <br />Equity Institute to provide the following: document translations for Spanish <br />and Karen (Burmese) speaking families, a community racial equity <br />workshop, culturally responsive teaching seminars, board training and <br />continuing education for staff. A free DEI library was created for use by the <br />staff, board and community to check in-out books as needed. <br />Since 2018 Musical Empowerment has been in a contract with The Equity <br />Paradigm, a Black and woman-owned consulting firm from Durham, NC that <br />specializes in racial equity training. The relationship with this firm began <br />with an organizational assessment and has grown to include board training, <br />community workshops, organizational Q&A sessions, and documentation <br />audits to evaluate for inclusive language. In April of 2020, the board worked <br />together to develop our own DEI pledge and incorporated DEI into our <br />strategic plan with a commitment to continue growing and learning as an <br />organization. <br />**Musical Empowerment's DEI Pledge: Through music and mentorship, we <br />at Musical Empowerment commit to engaging in a proactive dialogue <br />regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. W e will embrace ongoing <br />opportunities to listen, learn and grow in order to strengthen our anti-racist <br />organization and work toward an equitable society.** <br />In the Spring of 2024, our Executive Director, Katie Battle, participated in <br />the Leadership Triangle Transforming Leaders Program. Included in this <br />master level, semester-long course were detailed trainings and analyses of <br />personal and professional culturally relevant practices and work to develop <br />a culturally responsive leadership plan for executives. Additionally, in the <br />Fall of 2024, Musical Empowerment, in collaboration with the Triangle <br />Music Educators Consortium, presented a free half day workshop for all <br />music educators and nonprofit professionals with Dr. Constance McKoy, <br />Professor Emeritus of UNC Greensboro’s Music Department. Her <br />presentation focused on Culturally Responsive Teaching in the Music <br />Classroom specifically and was attended by over 15 organizations and 30+ <br />nonprofit and music education professionals. <br />Additionally, ME is proud to have a diverse board of directors and staff. In <br />January 2023, Ayeza Nxumalo was elected as ME’s first black, female <br />board chair. Under her leadership, ME continues its commitment to DEI and <br />culturally responsive practices. 50% of ME’s Board of Directors identify as <br />people of color, and 50% identify as women. Diverse lived experiences of <br />our board members bring a wide variety of expertise to all decision making, <br />with the voices of our college mentors being represented by 2 board <br />members that are UNC Mentor Alumni. Both our paid staff members identify <br />as bi-racial, and both identify as members of the LGBT community (one <br />identifying as non-binary.) 100% of our board members and staff have a <br />shared commitment to continuously improve diversity, equity and inclusion <br />at Musical Empowerment. <br />Docusign Envelope ID: A088DBE6-D660-4E65-9431-68A51B6BCD38