This post was guest authored by Bryan Drewry, founder and former President/Executive Board member of Bexley Minority Parent Alliance (BMPA).
As I wrap up my ninth year on the Bexley Minority Parent Alliance (BMPA), I have decided to step down from the Executive Board. BMPA has an outstanding group of volunteer leaders who are committed to moving the organization forward. I am confident our endeavors will continue to benefit students, staff, and the community-at-large.
The vision of the original founders, Ahdra Young, Manika Williams, and Jonathan Baker, was to focus on bringing together children of all ages, with the intention of building community among minority families and staff. They also hoped to create positive change in our district.
BMPA has now become a collaborative of caregivers, educators, professionals, and allies working to empower and celebrate our students, to close opportunity gaps in our district, and to provide learning and engagement opportunities in our community. Our goals are to (1) form community among families with minority children; (2) support children, families, and district personnel; (3) advocate on behalf of students with school and community leaders; and (4) provide guidance on policy and training decisions.
Over the past decade or so, we have accomplished our goals in many ways. From hosting an annual back-to-school event for all community members, to establishing an annual Juneteenth celebration as well as a regular holiday in the City of Bexley, we have worked alongside others to foster a sense of togetherness and increase historical awareness. In addition to our efforts with the community, we have collaborated with the district on annual recruitment initiatives to increase diversity in teachers and staff across Bexley City Schools.
We have also been providing support to teachers and staff at all levels, to improve retention and to show our appreciation. We continue to focus on improvements in DEI leadership in the district, with an emphasis on supporting minority students. To that end, we created an annual Circle of Excellence ceremony which recognizes and celebrates key community leaders, in addition to providing thousands of dollars in scholarship aid to Bexley high school students. Much of this aid came from our annual Art Auction event, which supported local artists while also generating funding for our high school scholarship program.
Another program that BMPA partnered with the district on was a middle school initiative to establish trauma-based training for staff to better support students. BMPA has also worked with the district to secure a grant to provide diverse books for elementary school libraries, as well as obtaining the Diversifying the Education Profession grant from the state.
In prior years, we organized a peer mentorship program in collaboration with the district, to pair younger minority students with older minority students who served as influential role models. Our current Executive Board members are looking forward to independently coordinating this program in 2024-2025, as we received positive feedback from those who were involved in the past.
Beyond the school district and events for students and staff, we participated in the review process for the hire of the City of Bexley’s current police chief. The data consistently shows us that diversity and inclusion are integral to creating a more equitable community, and that there are benefits to police forces having a wider range of perspectives and experiences. For that reason, we created a police listening series, where community members meet to have an open dialogue with police officers.
To further open community discussion and awareness of racial issues in the City of Bexley, we started quarterly listening sessions. In addition, we hosted a financial literacy series offering free, educational programming to the community. We have also partnered with other community organizations in Bexley, as well as local leaders and businesses in the Central Ohio area, to establish annual cultural events that recognize and celebrate our Asian American / Pacific Islander (AAPI), Hispanic, and African American communities. Most recently, BMPA collaborated with the City on an inaugural community banner program for Black History Month.
It has been my pleasure and honor to have worked with so many people who have helped to change the culture in Bexley. The current BMPA board will continue the mission of our non-profit, empowering minority students to achieve their full potential by providing support and advocacy, as well as influencing policy.
To learn more, get involved, or reach out for assistance, please visit bexleyminorityparents.org or email bmpa@bexleyminorityparents.org.
Sincerely,
Bryan Drewry.
