diversity

Instead of speaking on the billions of dollars within the Missouri budget, House Democrats repeatedly spoke out against language added to each bill that prohibits spending on anything associated with diversity, equity and inclusion. That language is expected to be stripped out in the Senate.

The University of Missouri System is halting the use of diversity statements in its hiring practices. UM President Mun Choi said in an email Monday that officials will now send a “values commitment” to job applicants instead of DEI statements.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft tweeted that a job posting for a “diversity, inclusion and belonging leader” was an example of “left-wing indoctrination in the workplace” and the wrong use of taxpayer dollars. State agency leaders say inclusion and belonging programs help retain employees during a severe staffing shortage.

In her new memoir, "Blindsided: Essays From The Only Black Woman in the Room," Dawn Downey battles a mental war between sensing racism and denying it.

Legislation that would prohibit colleges from hiring diversity, equity and inclusion consultants and remove diversity questions from hiring requirements was heard by a House committee last week.

Black students at Eureka High School are upset that the Rockwood School Board eliminated its diversity and inclusion programs and want the school board to replace their programs or implement new ones. The students say that racist incidents at their school are weighing on them and that they need more diversity programs, which are safe spaces for them.

Olivia Bloomfield, who died in 2022, was a Leawood resident and avid traveler who was born with congenital muscular dystrophy. In January, Kansas City Council officially dedicated the universal changing restrooms at KCI in her memory.

A new Missouri law made it a crime to provide minors with sexually explicit visual material, leading librarians across the state to remove anything from their collections that they thought could be considered criminal.

Over 100 educators gathered in Jefferson City to voice opposition to Missouri bills that would allow public districts and charter schools to open enrollment to nonresidents, and a "Parent's Bill of Rights" that would ban schools from teaching diversity-related concepts and "critical race theory."

The legislation makes several changes regarding K-12 education, including the creation of a portal that contains every school district’s curriculum and other information. It also bans the teaching of diversity-related concepts.

Proposed bills being considered in the Missouri Senate would restrict the teaching of "divisive concepts" in schools and would give parents the ability to object to any lessons or teaching materials they deem "inappropriate for whatever reason."

The position will oversee the equity measure that legalization campaign supporters boast to be the first of its kind in the nation — a microlicense program designed to boost opportunities in the marijuana industry for businesses in disadvantaged communities.