A Recap of LWPTSA Council’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Workshop With Courtney Wooten
By Zahra Eslami, LWPTSA Council Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Co-Chair
On April 2, 2025, we had the privilege of hosting a powerful workshop with Courtney Wooten, joined by many thoughtful and committed LWPTSA leaders. One of the reflections that has stayed with me as a DE&I chair, is the deep importance of restorative practice—not just as a response, but as a reflection of our values.
When harm happens—and it inevitably will in any community—the way we respond speaks volumes. It takes real strength to name a mistake without defensiveness, to offer a sincere apology without excuse, and to ask, “How can we do better?” This is not a sign of weakness, but a quiet form of courageous leadership.
It’s the kind of leadership our students are watching. What they need to see isn’t perfection—it’s honesty, humility, and the commitment to grow from where we’ve been. [View meeting slides]
🎯 Workshop Focus
To explore how school communities can move beyond surface-level inclusion to create environments of true belonging and dignity, using a lens rooted in equity, empathy and intentional practice.
🧠 Key Concepts & Takeaways
🧩 The Importance of Belonging
Belonging is more than access—it’s about being respected, valued, and co-creating community. It’s a foundational human need (Maslow), and a driver of both academic and organizational success. True belonging includes the right to make demands on the system, not just be included in it.
🌳 The Culture Tree (Zaretta Hammond)
- Surface Culture – visible elements like food, flags, language
- Shallow Culture – unspoken norms, emotional rules
- Deep Culture – core beliefs and identity-based norms (“shoulds”)
Understanding these layers helps us lead with empathy and see what’s often invisible.
❤️ The Dignity Framework
A tool for creating spaces where people feel:
- Appreciated
- Validated
- Accepted
- Treated fairly
These are the indicators of belonging we should strive to build, assess, and protect.
🔄 Praxis: Reflection Meets Action
To foster dignity in school communities, we must:
- Build partnerships (especially across difference)
- Repair harm and rebuild trust
- Affirm differences instead of “melting pot” narratives
- Presume competence and positive intent
And we must do it all urgently and sustainably.
⚠️ Watch for Distortions of Dignity
Courtney reminded us that systems often set people up to fail. Common dignity violations include:
- Judgement
- Otherizing
- Presuming incompetence
- Marginalizing voices
- Apathy or dismissal
- Dominating instead of collaborating
Naming these helps us unlearn them—and intentionally build a culture of radical welcome.
💬 Reflection Prompts Shared
- Where do you feel belonging, and why?
- How does your organization foster empathy, listening, and openness?
- Which standard (partnership, repair, affirmation, presumption) could your group focus on first—and why?
📚 Resources for Continued Learning
- Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity — Cobb & Krownapple
- Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain — Zaretta Hammond
- Othering & Belonging Institute — belonging.berkeley.edu
- DismantlingRacism.org — organizational tools and frameworks
💡 Final Thought
Belonging isn’t a checkbox—it’s a practice.
This session wasn’t just a conversation; it was a call to lead with empathy, reframe systems, and model dignity every step of the way.
About Our Guest Speaker
Courtney Wooten is a dynamic organizational consultant, educator, and activist specializing in equity and cross-cultural inclusion. Raised in the Berkeley/Oakland Bay Area, she grew up immersed in social justice movements, embracing community organizing and intersectional coalition-building as part of her lifelong mission for change.
A Stanford alumna and PhD candidate in sustainability education, Courtney pairs education and activism to create real impact. She has led community-driven initiatives through organizations like Edmonds School District, Sno-Isle Libraries, and UC Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute, fostering dialogue and equity-focused action.
She is the founder of Suburbia Rising and Stories of Self & Solidarity and co-founder of the Justice & Faith Collective, where she brings creative, educational, and community-led programs to life. Beyond her advocacy, she is a Peacemaking Circle Keeper, speaker and homeschooling mother of two.
Her latest project, Folktale Forest, is an inclusive wellness retreat focused on nature-based education, intergenerational dialogue, and sustainable permaculture, centering queer, Black, and brown wellness.
Questions?
Contact the LWPTSA Council Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Co-Chairs Zahra Eslami & Mansi M. Majeed at Diversity@LWPTSA.net.