Student Voice Symposium
Students from WDMCS, Ames Community School District, Ankeny Community School District, Des Moines Public Schools, Johnston Community School District, and Southeast Polk Community School District were empowered and equipped to use their voices as leaders in their communities at the first annual Student Voice Symposium on March 23 at Stilwell Junior High. The high school and junior high students spent the day connecting with each other and community leaders, as well as learning about leadership and equity topics in adult- and student-led sessions.
See Photos from the Student Voice Symposium
Created by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department and the WDMCS intercultural outreach coordinator, the symposium is a collaboration between multiple district departments including Community Education, Teaching and Learning Services, and School/Community Relations, in partnership with community organizations and sponsors.
When: March 23, 2024
Where: Stilwell Junior High, 1601 Vine St., West Des Moines, IA 50265
Dr. Dau Jok
Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
515-633-5040
Gianna Pugliese
WDMCS Community Education
Intercultural Outreach Coordinator
Schedule
- 7:45 a.m. Breakfast and Registration Cafeteria
- 8:45 a.m. Symposium Opening Auditorium
- Dr. Dau Jok, he/him, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS)
- 9 a.m. Keynote Speech Auditorium
- San Wong, she/her, Director, Iowa Department of Human Rights
- 9:40 a.m. Transition to Session I
- 9:50 a.m. Session I See "Session I Options."
- 10:30 a.m. Transition to Session II
- 10:40 a.m. Session II See "Session II Options."
- 11:20 a.m. Transition to Lunch and Community
- 11:30 a.m. Lunch and Community Cafeteria and Community Spaces
- 12:30 p.m. Transition to Session III
- 12:40 p.m. Session III See "Session III Options."
- 1:20 p.m. Transition to Panel and Closing
- 1:30 p.m. Leadership and Equity Panel Auditorium
- Angela Jackson, Senior VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Athene
- Sonia Reyes, President and CEO, Reyes Equity Institute
- Heather Schott, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Krause Group
- Abigail Sui, Executive Director, EMBARC
- Moderator: Laine Buck, School/Community Relations Director, WDMCS
- 2:45 p.m. Closing Ceremony Auditorium
- Leonard ‘Lenny’ Bell III and Gerald ‘Bo’ James III, Hip-Hope Inc.
- 4 p.m. Dismissal
Session I Options
- Session I: 9:50 a.m.
- *Session offered more than once.
- Fostering Healthy Love for Immigrant and Refugee Students
- The Importance and Impact of High School Mentors*
- Meet Officer Cuevas
- Mindful Creativity: Neurographic Art for Mental Well-Being*
- What Do You Value?*
- What Emotion Are You Wearing Today? New View: New You*
Fostering Healthy Love for Immigrant and Refugee Students
Room 1318
Sandrah Nasimiyu, Nisaa African Family Services
Our workshop empowers students with the knowledge and skills needed to cultivate healthy and meaningful relationships. The session will cover essential topics including cultural sensitivity, communication skills, building self-esteem, and understanding boundaries. Our experienced facilitators bring a wealth of knowledge in culturally sensitive relationship education, ensuring that the content is tailored to meet the specific needs of immigrant and refugee youth.
The Importance and Impact of High School Mentors*
Room 1316
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
In this session, you’ll hear from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa staff about ways high school students can get involved, as well as listen to a panel of high school students who serve as mentors. They will share their personal experiences and tips for becoming leaders in the community through leading by example.
Meet Officer Cuevas
Room 1148
Richard Cuevas, West Des Moines Police Department
West Des Moines Police Officer Richard Cuevas will share his story as a police officer, including experiences as a Latino cop in Iowa and U.S. Army veteran. He currently serves as a school resource officer in West Des Moines Community Schools. Participants will have an opportunity to ask Officer Cuevas questions.
Mindful Creativity: Neurographic Art for Mental Well-Being*
Room 1317
Sarah Petersen, WDMCS Visual Art Curriculum Lead
This guided session invites you to explore the intersection of mindfulness and creativity, using simple techniques to enhance your mental well-being. Join us in this session to relax, reflect, promote mental clarity, and infuse your life with creative joy. No artistic expertise is necessary — just an open mind and a willingness to explore the therapeutic benefits of mindful creativity.
What Do You Value?*
Room 1212
Claudia Kyalangalilwa, ArtForce Iowa
We will explore values with participants and help you determine which is your most important value. This session will allow you to make art as well as engage in self-reflection, personal development, and peer-to-peer interactions. Knowing and understanding your values will not only empower you but allow you to consider how these values affect all aspects of your life.
What Emotion Are You Wearing Today? New View: New You*
Room 1152
Ashlee Swinton, Youth Justice Initiative
Join us for a community-building, interactive, hands-on session to help attendees understand the power of their own mind and how thoughts and emotions impact self and relationship management. We use evidence-based mentoring programs that increase mental well-being, resilience, and impulse control while building critical life skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Session II Options
- Session II: 10:40 a.m.
- *Session offered more than once.
- College 101
- The Importance and Impact of High School Mentors*
- Mindful Creativity: Neurographic Art for Mental Well-Being*
- Understanding the System and Social Awareness: Code Switching
- What Do You Value?*
- What Emotion Are You Wearing Today? New View: New You*
- Your Mental Health Matters: Overcoming Anxiety and Depression “For Real, For Real”
College 101
The Importance and Impact of High School Mentors*
Room 1316
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
In this session, you’ll hear from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa staff about ways high school students can get involved, as well as listen to a panel of high school students who serve as mentors. They will share their personal experiences and tips for becoming leaders in the community through leading by example.
Mindful Creativity: Neurographic Art for Mental Well-Being*
Room 1317
Sarah Petersen, WDMCS Visual Art Curriculum Lead
This guided session invites you to explore the intersection of mindfulness and creativity, using simple techniques to enhance your mental well-being. Join us in this session to relax, reflect, promote mental clarity, and infuse your life with creative joy. No artistic expertise is necessary — just an open mind and a willingness to explore the therapeutic benefits of mindful creativity.
Understanding the System and Social Awareness: Code Switching
What Do You Value?*
Room 1212
Claudia Kyalangalilwa, ArtForce Iowa
We will explore values with participants and help you determine which is your most important value. This session will allow you to make art as well as engage in self-reflection, personal development, and peer-to-peer interactions. Knowing and understanding your values will not only empower you but allow you to consider how these values affect all aspects of your life.
What Emotion Are You Wearing Today? New View: New You*
Room 1152
Ashlee Swinton, Youth Justice Initiative
Join us for a community-building, interactive, hands-on session to help attendees understand the power of their own mind and how thoughts and emotions impact self and relationship management. We use evidence-based mentoring programs that increase mental well-being, resilience, and impulse control while building critical life skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Your Mental Health Matters: Overcoming Anxiety and Depression “For Real, For Real”
Room 1203
Michael Allen, Ankeny Community Schools School Counselor
This session will be solution-focused in helping students determine how to deal with depression and anxiety and determining what coping strategies work best for them. This session will also be a platform for students to have an open discussion in a supportive, non-judgmental atmosphere to talk about the mental health issues that are most important to them. We will figure out ways to help formulate a plan to start the process of overcoming anxiety and depression and moving forward “For Real, For Real.”
Session III Options
- Session III: 12:40 p.m.
- *Session offered more than once.
- ^Student-led session.
- Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself: The Art of Telling Your Own Story
- Arguments for Equity: Crafting Your Words^
- Equity: Understand and Transform Inequities
- Leadership: Emerging and Leading for Humanity
- Lies My Teacher Told Me
- So You Want to Get a Grant?^
- What Do You Value?*
Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself: The Art of Telling Your Own Story
Room 1148
Lenny Bell, Hip-Hope and DMACC YouthBuild
In this workshop, you will learn how to be take control of your narrative by framing your experiences through storytelling. You will explore the value of making sense of our lives as well as asserting agency over how you are understood by others. You will explore your values, beliefs, and goals, and ways to express and pursue them with purpose. You will also learn the importance of authenticity, agency, and self-expression in crafting your identity and relationships with others.
Arguments for Equity: Crafting Your Words^
Room 1314
Melvin Bryson, Valley High School Student
In this session, you will learn how to form a persuasive argument from a former Varsity Debate Club member and current senior at Valley High School. Learning how to effectively argue your point and counter another person’s argument is a key communication skill and will help you become a more effective leader. We will also discuss how to handle microaggressions when they are said to you or about someone else.
Equity: Understand and Transform Inequities
Room 1312
Natalie French, WDMCS Director of English for Speakers of Other Languages
This session will help attendees understand foundational elements of equity, including ways individuals maximize their voice to advocate and challenge inequities. You will learn ways you can facilitate your sense of belonging, understand systems and inequities, and levers of change.
Leadership: Emerging and Leading for Humanity
Room 1318
Dr. Dau Jok, he/him, WDMCS Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
What is leadership? Want to learn how to lead, grow, and model? In this session, you will co-create space to learn about leadership: defining leadership, applying effective leadership practices, and learning how to grow individual leadership capacity to transform your school, communities, and future.
Lies My Teacher Told Me
Room 1126
Carrie Jacobs, she/her, WDMCS Online Learning Coordinator
In 1995 book “Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong,” James W. Loewen critically examines 12 popular American high school history textbooks. Loewen concludes that the authors propagate false, Eurocentric, and mythologized views of American history. In addition to his critique of the dominant historical themes presented in high school textbooks, he presents themes from history he believes should be presented in high school textbooks.
So You Want to Get a Grant?^
Room 1203
Waukee Northwest High School GSA
Our session will tell the story of how our high school Gender and Sexualities Alliance applied for, received, and carried out a $10,000 grant from the It Gets Better Project. As high school students ourselves, we are all for youth empowerment and engagement within the community, but we understand that money is often a major obstacle. And even though grants may be an option, most high school students have no idea how to even begin applying for one. So we hope that by sharing our story we can “demystify” the process of writing grants and encourage other student leaders to take initiative and create the change they want to see in their communities.
What Do You Value?*
Room 1212
Claudia Kyalangalilwa, ArtForce Iowa
We will explore values with participants and help you determine which is your most important value. This session will allow you to make art as well as engage in self-reflection, personal development, and peer-to-peer interactions. Knowing and understanding your values will not only empower you but allow you to consider how these values affect all aspects of your life.
Meet the Keynote, Panelists, and MCs
- Keynote Speaker: San Wong, Director of the Iowa Department of Human Rights
- Panelist: Angela Jackson, Senior VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Athene
- Panelist: Sonia Reyes, President and CEO at Reyes Equity Institute
- Panelist: Heather Schott, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Krause Group
- Panelist: Abigail Sui, Executive Director of EMBARC
- MC: Leonard ‘Lenny’ Bell III, DMACC YouthBuild, Hip-Hope Inc.
- MC: Gerald ‘Bo’ James III, Founder and Executive Director of Hip-Hope Inc.
Keynote Speaker: San Wong, Director of the Iowa Department of Human Rights
San Wong has spent most of her life as a first generation immigrant. Born in West Malaysia, San’s family migrated to Singapore right before she started elementary school. In 1984, she came to the United States for college and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology and an MBA from Kansas State University.
She was an administrator at Des Moines Area Community College for 14 years prior to her appointment as director of the Iowa Department of Human Rights by Governor Terry Branstad. Through an alignment process in 2023, Human Rights is now a part of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and her responsibilities currently include serving as chief of the Bureau of Refugee Services and State Refugee Coordinator.
San has served on a number of boards dedicated to creating access to help the most vulnerable thrive as well as those fostering an appreciation of art, culture, and heritage of diverse populations. Currently, she is on the Des Moines Arts Festival and Horizon Science Academy boards and remains on the leadership teams for CelebrAsian, IAA’s annual Asian heritage festival, and the Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit.
Panelist: Angela Jackson, Senior VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Athene
Angela Jackson serves as senior vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to help lift up others. Ms. Jackson is responsible for the direct development and execution of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for Athene, a leading financial services company. She works with the executive leadership team to put in place goals and strategies that align with Athene’s priorities around DEI efforts for the workforce. Ms. Jackson partners across business units to move the organization in a positive direction and ensure consistent internal and external messaging around initiatives.
Prior to assuming her current role, Ms. Jackson served as a senior corporate counsel for Maytag and owned a consulting firm, delivering expert business, management, and legal coaching for clients in for-profit and nonprofit businesses to provide national leadership training, diversity training, and community outreach.
She is the owner of The Great Frame Up in West Des Moines, a retail custom frame shop and gallery featuring local artists. She opened the business in 2005. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and international studies from Duke University and a juris doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. Ms. Jackson is on the boards of the West Des Moines Chamber, Des Moines Area Community College, and New City Church.
Panelist: Sonia Reyes, President and CEO at Reyes Equity Institute
Sonia Reyes is a highly skilled and accomplished multicultural professional with expertise in consulting and advisory services related to advocacy, community outreach and engagement, equity, representation, inclusion, and racial and social justice. Sonia’s journey has been remarkable — she came to the U.S. as an undocumented minor at 16 and is currently studying for the citizenship test. Her personal and professional experiences have motivated her to create systemic change wherever she goes. Sonia is the founder and CEO of the Reyes Equity Institute, which provides consulting, training, strategic planning, and outreach services to private and public entities that aim to cater to and serve Latinos and new immigrants. She is also the leader of the State of Iowa Office of Latino Affairs, where she advocates for Iowans of Latino heritage and provides technical assistance to local and state government agencies, businesses, and other organizations that serve Latinos in Iowa.
Sonia has launched several important initiatives, including the Iowa Latino College Access Network, the Iowa Latino Hall of Fame, the Iowa Association for Latino Professionals (PILA), the Iowa Queer Communities of Color Coalition, the Iowa Spanish Helpline, the Hola Center of Iowa, and many more. Additionally, she is the vice-chair of the City of Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission. She has been a board member for multiple non-profit agencies including the ACLU of Iowa, the Neighborhood Finance Corporation, Al Exito, and LUNA. Sonia has been recognized for her work in the communities in Iowa, receiving awards such as the Iowa LGBTQ Legacy Award, the Cesar Chavez Leadership Award, the LULAC Leadership Award, and the Salvadoran Leadership Award. Sonia is a nationally recognized speaker, convener, coalition builder, and advocate for various causes, including Latinos, LGBTQIA, immigrants, youth, mental health, and intersectionality.
Panelist: Heather Schott, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Krause Group
Heather’s background is what makes her unique in her field. Her training is in mathematics, technology, and business, but at the core of all work is people. There are perspectives and voices missing in these disciplines and, most importantly, missing at the decision-making tables. She started becoming an advocate and learned that her passion for problem-solving was helpful in this space and that companies not only needed this work but valued someone taking it on.
Her personal brand and leadership style are founded on influence, innovation, and disruption. She draws from her initial 22 years holding a variety of roles within corporate America in IT, HR, and actuarial communities. This experience allowed her to partner across business units and disciplines and allowed her to test out equity and inclusion practices while she supported product development, accounting, actuarial, operational functions, and data management practices.
Heather received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and business with an emphasis in management from Morningside College and completed certification in DEI with The Conference Board.
Panelist: Abigail Sui, Executive Director of EMBARC
Abigail Sui is one of the founding staff members of EMBARC and became the executive director in 2022. Abigail has experience and knowledge about community driven initiatives and collaborations. She helped conceptualize, launch, and manage the Early Childhood Parent Navigator program, Crisis and Advocacy Program, Education Program, and the only social enterprise called Interpreting Service. Under Abigail’s leadership, the program has taught over 1,000 parents, enrolled over 500 preschoolers and kindergarteners in local school districts, and served over 4,000 social service cases, including victims who have experienced domestic violence and abuse in the past ten years.
Abigail holds a master’s of religious education from Bangalore, India, and graduated from DMACC with a human services degree. Abigail worked as an interpreter team leader for the International Rescue Committee in Malaysia, where the UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, office is located, for over four years, overseeing the interpreter program and supervising 40+ interpreters, before settling in the U.S. in 2013.
Outside of office hours, Abigail provided parenting and youth training to her community across the state. Abigail has a decade of successful experience working with women’s groups and supporting and training Sunday School teachers in the church.
MC: Leonard ‘Lenny’ Bell III, DMACC YouthBuild, Hip-Hope Inc.
Lenny directs DMACC YouthBuild, guiding young adults toward brighter educational and employment horizons. His impact ripples through organizations like Hip-Hope Inc., I’ll Make Me A World In Iowa, and many more. Lenny’s journey involves hosting the soulful open mic Say What! Poetry, contributing to CultureALL’s human library, and steering the Hip-Hope Academic Scholarship. He’s a force behind events like the Greater Des Moines Young Men of Color Conference and the I’ll Make Me A World In Iowa Celebration Day Festival. Lenny holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, a master’s in higher education from Iowa State University, and a certificate in nonprofit leadership and administration from Drake University.
Lenny cherishes moments at home, savoring new music, movies, and TV shows across genres. However, nothing surpasses the value he places on time spent with family and friends.
MC: Gerald ‘Bo’ James III, Founder and Executive Director of Hip-Hope Inc.
Bo is a successful entrepreneur who owns multiple businesses. He is deeply committed to realizing his dreams and helping others, particularly the youth, achieve theirs. As the founder and executive director of Hip-Hope Inc., he passionately embraces the title of “Believer.”
Bo is deeply involved in various local boards and committees, striving to develop community assets and seek systemic solutions. His contributions span over 30 years and include roles in the City Council Music Commission, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Amerigroup Iowa Stakeholder Advisory Board, DHHS AACT, Des Moines Music Coalition, NAACP, Iowa Music Awards Academy, Iowa C.O.R.E., Concerned Citizens For Justice, Iowa Multi-cultural Multi-media Association, and Des Moines Community Safety Commission. He is a happy husband of 15 years and has a close-knit family, including four sisters, one brother, two sons, four daughters, and four grandchildren.
Meet the WDMCS Planning Team
- Laine Buck | Director of School/Community Relations
- Natalie French | Director of English for Speakers of Other Languages
- Carrie Jacobs (she/her) | Online Learning Coordinator
- Shahna Janssen | Director of WDMCS Community Education
- Justin Miller | Thought Partner and Business Liaison
- Gianna Pugliese (she/her) | Intercultural Outreach Coordinator
- Alexandra Wade (she/her) | Communications Specialist
- Dau Jok, Ph.D. (he/him) | Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Laine Buck | Director of School/Community Relations
In her role in West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS), Laine and her team support the overall communication and public relations needs of the district. Laine’s career has included roles in higher education as well as technology. Laine received both her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications along with a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Grand View University. Laine has continued developing leadership skills through the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s Community Leadership Program in 2011 and the West Des Moines Chamber’s Leadership Academy in 2023. She’s served on a variety of boards in the metro and is actively involved in the West Des Moines community where she and her husband, Tom, live. Together, they’ve raised five daughters in their blended family. The youngest is a freshman at UNI.
Natalie French | Director of English for Speakers of Other Languages
Natalie French is a collaborative educator and leader of multilingual learning. She currently serves as WDMCS English for Speakers of Other Languages program director. In that role, she supports K-12 ESOL, Dual Language, and World Language curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning. Natalie partners with students, families, and teachers to approach learning with an assets-based mindset in a culturally responsive way. She has a master’s in educational leadership and has taught Spanish and English language development. Natalie also serves as an adjunct instructor for Drake University’s TESL endorsement program.
Carrie Jacobs (she/her) | Online Learning Coordinator
Carrie Jacobs is a life-long Iowan who grew up in Lacona, Iowa. Her passion to be a teacher was fulfilled at Central College in Pella, Iowa, and she started her career in WDMCS at Walnut Creek Campus in 2002. Carrier won the teacher Golden Apple Award in 2009 for impact on students. Carrie has served as a teacher, instructional coach, and now, online learning coordinator. Carrie is a case monitor for the city’s Youth Justice Initiative and also works with CultureALL as an Open Book story titled “Farmgirl,” sharing her experiences growing up on a farm and how that has impacted her life now living in a city. Carrie is a member of the Human Rights Commission. In her spare time, Carrie likes to travel the world on her bicycle, travel and camp with her family, and sit down with a good book and some hot tea on a rainy day.
Shahna Janssen | Director of WDMCS Community Education
Shahna Janssen has served as the director of Community Education for WDMCS since 2007. Through that role, she supports the district through the coordination of child care, youth and adult classes, facility rentals, intercultural outreach services, and volunteer programs. Shahna has also worked alongside countless community members to identify and address school and community needs. Prior to joining WDMCS, Shahna worked for 10 years in the field of substance abuse prevention supporting 30 school districts and numerous community coalitions in central Iowa. Shahna graduated from University of Northern Iowa where she studied psychology and family services.
Justin Miller | Thought Partner and Business Liaison
Justin currently serves as thought partner and business liaison for WDMCS. In this role, he guides the implementation of project-based learning in K-12 education and supports classroom facilitators to ensure effective implementation. He has been with the district for 20 years serving in various roles from teacher to instructional coach and his current role, starting as a junior high social studies teacher. He is originally from Waterloo, Iowa, and now resides in Adel with his wife and two daughters. Justin has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and is a proud graduate of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy.
Gianna Pugliese (she/her) | Intercultural Outreach Coordinator
In her current role, Gianna sponsors the Valley Refugee and Immigrant Student Embassy (R.I.S.E.) group, runs a newcomer summer camp, serves as a district equity lead, and supports professional development across the district. Gianna was the recipient of the 2022 West Des Moines Emerging Citizen of the Year Award. She served as a refugee education coordinator at Lutheran Services in Iowa. She is on the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa Board of Directors and Education Committee, a member of the Latino Service Providers Coalition, and volunteers for Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice’s immigration legal clinics. Gianna lives in West Des Moines with her husband and two cats. They enjoy kayaking in the summertime, attending concerts, trying new foods, and exploring the world together. Gianna has a bachelor’s degree in English from University of Iowa and a master’s of education degree from Drake.
Alexandra Wade (she/her) | Communications Specialist
Alexandra is a specialist in the WDMCS School/Community Relations Department. She has been a participant in the district’s equity work since 2014 and is a district equity lead and member of the District Equity Team. A Korean adoptee and graduate of WDMCS, she is passionate about the district’s promise to students that everyone can find their place in the district. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with concentrations in journalism and organizational communication and is currently president and conference chair of the Iowa School Public Relations Association. Alexandra spends her spare time cooking, traveling, and being a K-pop fan.
Dau Jok, Ph.D. (he/him) | Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Dr. Jok is an optimistic results-oriented leader with proven experience in non-profit, military, coaching, and education. A former Division I basketball captain, he is a 2021-22 SEL Fellow for the CASEL Fellows Academy, non-profit director, Captain in the United States Army Reserve, and a national speaker. He seeks to co-create spaces with students and each stakeholder to co-learn in the cultivation of culturally affirming spaces and education. Dr. Jok holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in global leadership from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Ph.D. in education from Drake University. His research and praxis focus on Indigenous Knowledge Systems — Indigenous Education and Leadership — leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and social and emotional learning/emotional intelligence.