​Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee works toward day it’s no longer needed

By Lou Fancher

​There’s no trace of irony or falsehood in the words of Ellen Lee when she shares her dream for the Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee (PADC), a nonprofit she co-leads with David Gard and about which she is passionate: “It is that PADC will not be needed because Piedmont is entirely inclusive. I dream that anti-racism and the principles of racial equity are woven into the fabric of our community.”

Known for 18 years as the Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee, a change of name two years ago signaled the group’s recommitment to core principles and practices upheld by the 501(c)(3) organization. Among those principles and practices are, of course, anti-racism; dismantling systems of oppression; and encouraging racial equity through education, collective action, transparency and honest dialogue.

Led by roughly a dozen board members and supported by local officials and volunteers, the PADC operates primarily through liaisons with city, school and community partners and stakeholders on donation-based grants and community education programs facilitated by experts in racial equity, inclusion and interactive community conversations. Through partnerships and events such as collaborations with the Piedmont Education Foundation, the Appreciating Diversity Film Series, Piedmont’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration and an art and essay showcase, Lee said people find a variety of entry points for participation.

“I’m especially pleased to have launched the first art and essay showcase this year,” she said. “It was a way to involve our students, the youngest people in our community, to engage them in this question of how we can be more inclusive in Piedmont. It was wonderful to see their joy.”

It was also wonderful, she added, because she has experienced the bleak, destructive energy of being silenced, stereotyped and subject to racism that is systemic and strikes its hardest blows in Black and Brown communities.

“As an Asian American, it’s important that I do this work. As a person of color, I’ve had to deal with it. Even though the greater Bay Area is diverse, attacks against Asian Americans have happened right here Oakland. This work I do is personal, but it also benefits all of us, no matter your background. It’s not just for children of color in Piedmont; it’s for all children in Piedmont.”

Fueling Lee’s enthusiasm and determination are signs that the PADC and like-minded organizations believe are having a positive impact on the community.

“There are things like having Dr. Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard in place, our efforts in Piedmont schools, the work done by Jean Takazawa and Ina Bendich, the founders of the Piedmont Affinity Mentorship Program, that are amazing and overall the reception from people open-minded and wanting change — people who want to know how to support diversity,” Lee said. “It’s a journey for all of us. There’ll always be folks with questions, and it’s important for us to show them why we’re so passionate.”

Wyngaard is the Piedmont Unified School District’s first director of diversity equity and inclusion, and the PADC’s efforts in local schools led to the school district’s adoption of a racial equity policy.

Outgoing President Sheila Leunig said the PADC’s achievements are never theirs alone and that working with other organizations not only leads to success but vastly extends their outreach capabilities.

“A good example is our partnership with the Piedmont Racial Equity Committee,” said Leunig. “They can get out in the street and protest, do grassroots activities that are different than ours. They can back candidates in town that we can’t support as a 501(c)(3) organization. They can roll out education opportunities, and by partnering with them we engage more people.”

Importantly, Leunig said that for young people attending Piedmont schools, where the student population is roughly 70% white, an excellent education must include a curriculum that recognizes life is a multicultural experience.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion will help them be successful in college, in their future jobs, in their relationships. The emphasis on academic rigor plus DEI creates an excellent education for our students and is what they’ll need when they launch into the world.”

For everyone, not just students, Leunig says learning the complete history of Piedmont offers invaluable insights.

“The redlining practices, the story of the Sidney Dearing family, the first Black family that moved here in 1924 (sidneydearing.com) and was eventually forced to move due to immense pressure and the violence of crowds gathering at the home. People need to know about it all.”

At a recent event, Lee recalled someone raising a hand to comment about why the ability to interact within diverse communities is vital.

“The person said, ‘It’s not just being able to do it, it’s that interacting leads to success.’ Studies show that companies with diverse workforces have better outcomes,” Lee said. “There’s value in being more inclusive and incorporating different backgrounds.”

Leunig remembered the comment and said about PADC’s mission that “It’s a long journey. It’s about building authentic relationships and trust. We were a sole voice in the city calling for change at first, but in the last few years there are more people showing up curious.

“Our biggest challenge is engaging more people in the community to learn what these words mean so we can have civil discourse. It goes back to moving past internalized biases and helping ourselves and our children to be successful in the world.”

Both women agreed that providing grant funds to other organizations requires close examination but also joy.

“We get to start and fund projects that build on the racial equity work we’re doing. The Affinity group (the Piedmont Affinity Mentorship Program), the program at high schools that trains older students to mentor younger students, had Asian Americans in Piedmont serving as role models. Now it’s an actual class at Piedmont High School that students get credit for participating in,” Lee said.

Leunig noted that “All the money we raise other than what is used for our organization is given out. As long as the project furthers our goals, it’s eligible. We funded the Black Student Union at the high school, teacher requests for books by authors of color or LGBTQ writers, celebrations of Black and Brown history and culture. We ask, ‘Do they meet our mission? What is the impact? Does it extend to all students throughout the district?’ ”

Building momentum and attracting wide-ranging voices to the table enables the PADC to speak with more than one voice.

“With one voice no matter how loud, you might not be heard,” Lee said. “But together, we can reach people who are retired, parents, young kids and students in high school and college — everyone in Piedmont.”
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Having reached “everyone in Piedmont” could mean Lee’s dream for diversity to be “woven into the fabric of the community” would be realized and the PADC’s mission accomplished, leaving only racial justice and equity in its place.