Affinity Groups

Stop by and treat yourself to a healthy meal and connect with other ACPS staff in Affinity Groups who identify in the following ways:

  • LGBTQIA+
  • Black or African American
  • Hispanic or Latinx

» RSVP here! (https://bit.ly/3YsbIrT)

Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) is dedicated to advocating for underrepresented identities within the ACPS staff and faculty community. On this website you will find information about organization's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion projects.

Connect with Us


CRED
(Open to all ACPS Staff)
 		 Affinity Groups
(Open to those who self-identify)
  • Program Manager for Talent Retention and DEI is the liasion
  • Meets twice a year
  • Creates measurable outcomes to monitor DEI growth within ACPS
  • Each affinity group has its own liaison
  • Meets a few times a year
  • Provides feedback and data metrics for progress on DEI growth within ACPS

 

Below you will find more information about Affinity groups, details on how to join or learn about events, get support (advocacy, mentorship, and community), and more details about our liaisons for each of our groups.

What is CRED?

Council for Retention, Equity, Diversity

What they are:

  • ACPS staff members, both instructional and classified, who come from diverse backgrounds.
  • Focused on creating measurable outcomes to monitor DEI growth in our division
  • Voluntary, uncompensated and employee-driven

What they are not:

  • Not intended to create a public forum or platform
  • Not intended to establish or promote political or social agenda

What are the priorities of CRED?

Priorities are focused on:

  • COMMUNICATION: Have a collective voice and platform through which to be heard
  • INCLUDE, CONNECT, EXCLUDE: Connect people; Affinity Groups and ERGs seem like the perfect start
  • DEVELOP, BUILD, SUPPORT: Develop and support action plans with clear, measurable outcomes
  • SYSTEMS: Ensure action planning addresses systemic challenges and increases awareness
  • PERSPECTIVES: Hear multiple perspectives and share your own

What is an Affinity Group?

What they are:

  • Employee-led and facilitated
  • An opportunity to foster a positive work environment by actively contributing to the mission, values, and DEI focus in our division
  • Voluntary, uncompensated and employee-driven
  • Organized around the protected classes set forth in non-discrimination laws or other historical barriers to an equitable and inclusive work environment.
  • Designed to facilitate cultural connections, diversity and understanding, and networking opportunities for employees from underrepresented backgrounds within the ACPS workforce.

What they are not:

  • Not intended to create a public forum or platform
  • Not intended to establish or promote any political or social agenda

What is the purpose of Affinity Groups in ACPS?

The primary goal of ACPS Affinity groups is to promote an opportunity for those who share common identities to gather and network. Time will be spent on creating a social, collaborative, problem solving, supportive space for those who share common identities to meet and support one another’s personal and professional perspectives with respect to each particular Affinity group. 

The purpose of these Affinity groups are to:

  • Promote unity, provide support, advocacy and build a sustained and engaged community among like identities of faculty and staff.
  • Provide an immediate and effective medium for addressing issues of concern to faculty and staff within their Affinity group.
  • Ensure the successful recruitment, retention, promotion, career advancement, and matriculation of underrepresented identities in ACPS.

Current ACPS Affinity Groups

These Affinity Groups are based on how you self-identify to create a safe and open space for participants.

If you are interested in participating, you can register to be part of an Affinity group network and receive announcements, upcoming dates for events, and other pertinent information for each identity group. Don’t see an Affinity group for your identity and would like to start an Affinity group? Reach out to Shay Carter-Shifflett, Program Manager for Talent Retention and DEI, ACPSaffinity@k12albemarle.org.

We currently have the following ACPS Affinity Groups and their liaisons. 

  • LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group
    • Group Liaison: Katie Morgans
  • Black Staff Affinity Group
    • Group Liaison: Christopher Howell
  • Latin-X, Indigenous, Hispanic Affinity Group
    • Group Liaison: Leilani Keys