The Learning Council: Uplifting Diversity & Inclusion

Blending educational, social, and health-oriented goals, The Learning Council (TLC) is a holistically minded organization that works primarily to make the Colorado school system a more equitable one, provide healthy food to its local community, and support social justice initiatives. Read the organization’s overview of the story product: There have been recent hate crimes and acts of violence against BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students in our regional public school systems. It is part of The Learning Council’s mission to uplift diversity and inclusion and create safe spaces for youth. We recently offered LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Training where people can learn how to be an ally and use culturally appropriate language, etc. It was a powerful event and we will offer more in the future. TLC also hires BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students and adults for different positions, such as our photographer Flynn. His story as a transgender youth is incredibly brave and inspiring.

Last year, he wrote a newspaper article, “Coming Out In Rural Colorado,” to share his experience with our regional community. Unfortunately, in the local public schools, students like Flynn have repeatedly been slandered, bullied, and hurt physically and emotionally. Many of those students coordinated themselves, with the support of The Learning Council, to participate in the public comment portion of a Delta County School District board meeting. We are so proud of these youth for speaking their voices and hope that it will have a positive impact on the way that DCSD and our regional community decides to move forward with diversity and inclusion!