As one of the least diverse school systems in Michigan, Traverse City Area Public Schools has an important role to play in combating systemic racism and promoting anti-racism within the schools. Students who graduate from these schools must be able to understand the racial injustices within the United States and the role they play in upholding systemic racism. It is important to incorporate diverse experiences into the curriculum within TCAPS. We urge TCAPS to incorporate Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian American studies into the school textbooks and lesson plans. Anti-racism resources should also be incorporated into the curriculum.

Staff and educators within the school should have quarterly training on diversity, racial sensitivity, and anti-racism. Educators must understand the role the school system plays in the criminalization of black and brown students and the school-to-prison pipeline in addition to the importance of anti-racism education. 

Traverse City should actively work to become an inclusive and welcoming community to all walks of life. Change is long past due, but it is never too late to start. It is important to educate students from a young age about the realities of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the United States.