An insider explains origins, goals of the recently-formed Noblesville Diversity Committee

Mother of five. Justice seeker. Believer in good.

My heart sank. A racist incident at Forrest Park involving a student from Noblesville High School – my children’s high school. Disappointment crept in as the community I and so many others love was at the center of the same kind of headlines across our country. I wondered how my community would respond.

Following the January incident, Dr. Beth Niedermeyer, Superintendent for Noblesville Schools, had several conversations with concerned parents and took the opportunity to spearhead a group that was interested in driving change. This was just the catalyst needed to get others involved. Accompanied by heightened racial tensions across our country, she wished to start a conversation in our area that would advocate for diversity, inclusion and equity in all facets of life; issues she knew were not solely a school problem. Through meeting with city and business leaders, the Noblesville Diversity Committee was born.

Dr. Niedermeyer said, “This was a community, state and national problem that would take a collaboration to tackle. I started reaching out to folks in the community to see if they wanted to serve on this committee with me to be a conduit for change. I invited parents who had experienced challenges in our schools. I contacted local ministers, city officials, Chamber of Commerce and local business owners. Some of those invited gave me names of other people who may be interested. I hosted the first meeting in February 2018.”

The NDC is a collection of citizens committed to creating a culture that understands, accepts, celebrates and respects our diversity. I was so thankful that this would be the way my community would respond. The NDC wishes to create a safe place to share our stories and embrace the diversity in Noblesville. While the initial concern was racial, our focus will be on equity and inclusion for all: Racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation/identity, socio-economic and exceptionalities. In each of those areas, we hope to be a voice and advocate for our community members.

We are blessed to live in such a great city and want to ensure that every person in our community feels their value and worth. I think of the way our community came together after our school shooting and I know we can do this. I firmly believe this is hard work. We have difficult conversations ahead but I also know we are capable. We are neighbors. We are in this together. This team sits around a table every month, building relationships with one another, challenging each other, and dreaming about a city where everyone belongs. We have created a safe place to share our stories and we are inviting you to come along.

Since its inception six months ago, the NDC has hosted several events throughout the city. The first was a Community Forum at the high school where students and community members from all over the world and different orientations spoke about their experiences as minorities in our city. It was an informative evening and a great kick off to who we are and what we hope to accomplish.

Secondly, with an emphasis on unity, we held our first annual Cultural Celebration this summer on the downtown square. We had neighbors from Jamaica, Kenya, Iraq, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Venezuela sharing their culture with us. The attitude of appreciation for one another brought a sense of hope and excitement to the city.

Thirdly, we started a conversation on implicit bias and stereotypes with our learning series, Diversity Dialogues. Coming up at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27 at the First United Methodist Church, we will explore “Why It Matters.” These events are free and open to the public. We welcome all ages and it’s a wonderful way to start the conversation within your own families.

Be sure to find us at events throughout the city, including the Noblesville Boys and Girls Club BBQ Bash on Friday, Sept. 14. Stop by, say hi and sign our community pledge. To learn more about NDC and future events, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

As Noblesville grows and changes, we welcome you in to this conversation with us and look forward to celebrating all of our residents together. It is my hope that this space will allow us to start the conversation and include each of you.