The Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) Equity Cadre members collaborated with Elementary students across Lincoln. The Equity Cadre is a student-led group focusing on issues of equity, awareness and change in LPS schools and the wider community. Students led storytimes and passed out morale boosting notes to their Elementary counterparts.

“I liked being able to engage with students that young because it really proves that it’s okay to accept differences,” Bittle said. “It shows the diversity within the world. It shows them that they are enough and it’s okay to be different.”

The Equity Cadre has been holding story times with elementary students since the 2021-22 academic year. The Cadre’s stated goals include providing innovative and transformative learning experiences at LPS, as well as modeling equity, civility, justice and kindness.

“The Cadre consists of several different people and cultures, all coming together to discuss how to be equitable to everyone,” sophomore Xavier Sorto said. “Membership means to me that people who are similar to me are represented in that discussion of equity.”

Further student-led storytimes will be held later in the year over Spring Break.