On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Lincoln Public Schools’ Northwest High School was to be bustling with roughly 120 scholars from various school districts across Nebraska for the 3rd annual “Greater Than One District Inclusion Summit.” However, due to weather-related circumstances, the 2025 summit has been postponed to April. Instead, the Lincoln Public Schools District Scholar Equity Cadre took advantage of the day to prepare.
Originating from the words of Lincoln East alum and former Cadre member, Kaylee Denker, the “Greater Than One District Inclusion Summit” has served as a way to water the seeds of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across Nebraska.
“Make sure the change, even though it is going to be a great challenge, is going to be recognized throughout a whole bunch of districts,” Denker said in the Equity Cadre’s “The Seat Beside You” video. “Not just LPS, but worldwide.”
The Equity Cadre has been working towards her goal; starting in April 2023, 60 scholars from Lincoln Public Schools and Westside Community Schools met together for the first time to discuss ways of improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. Since then, the annual event has nearly doubled in size, emulating LPS Coordinator of Culture, Inclusion and Scholar Development/Assistant Supervisor of Recruitment and Cadre Coordinator Peter Ferguson’s vision of uniting Nebraska.
“In order for us to accomplish anything, with social justice, with equity, with inclusion,” Ferguson said, “we need to be together.”
Though the event has been postponed, districts expected to attend include Lincoln Public Schools, Bellevue Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools, Westside Community Schools, Creighton Preparatory School, Grand Island Public Schools, Papillion La-Vista Community Schools, and Elkhorn Public Schools.
As Cadre members seized the opportunity to network and learn from some of Lincoln’s best, so will summit attendees; scholars will get to workshop their leadership skills with The Bay Owner, Mike Smith, and Hudl Global Inclusion Lead, Dr. Karen Kassebaum, understand inclusion with Tiffany and Brandon Verzal, and leave feeling more loved than ever before with 93.7 The Ticket FM Owner, Derrick Pearson.
“Whether it’s 50 people, 100 people or otherwise, if we can hug and smile at the end of it, it was a successful get together,” Pearson said. “That’s what I’m shooting for.”
Despite DEI being challenged across the nation, Lincoln Public Schools remains committed to its efforts of improving education for all. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have never and will never mean hate. Together, they represent love, and love always wins. While the cold may have paused the “Greater Than One District Inclusion Summit,” the warm future will soon bring unity and growth across Nebraska.
