As you browse this site, you’ll notice there are multiple opportunities to access free resources. These offerings are usually accessed through an email collection form like this.
Sometimes, when I see pop-ups and email collection forms on sites, I feel a little…
I need to decide if that free thing is worth handing over my email and risking a deluge of marketing messages – sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. At times, that has lead to a ridiculous multiple-emails-per-day stream. Other times, it has lead me to great resources, and sometimes it leads to nothing. So, I definitely get it – in this digital world of endless clickbait and upsells, I’ll be clear with you about my intentions so you can decide if it’s worth subscribing or not.
Why collect emails at all?
The main reason I collect emails is my desire to keep in touch and build this community. At the time of writing (May 2021) Diversity in Mind is still an infant and yet we already have over 250 members discussing and accessing ideas on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
I wish everyone around me was deeply committed to taking action toward equity in education. I would love to see our global community of teachers and leaders being antiracist, identify-affirming, and having a zero-tolerance attitude toward quashing people’s sense-of-self. Unfortunately, that has not been my experience and many teachers – all over the world – have told me how they are often the lone voice striving for these things in their teaching communities. Collecting emails is one of the ways of connecting all of us interested in this work, so we are encouraged to continue and be hopeful.
I’ve put myself out there – much as I am averse to being visible online and vulnerable to judgement and personal attacks. In sending your email to me, I take that as a message of solidarity and interest in being in touch.
If you’ve already entered your email, you’ll have noticed that you received your freebie which has been followed by…well…nothing at all. This is because I know I need to take time to work out the best way to keep everyone connected. Some people might want notifications every time there’s a new blog post on anything; some might want only particular topics (e.g. free resources); and others yet might want nothing more than a monthly digest they can peruse at their leisure. For me (in fact, us) to do this right, it’ll take time to research and tailor communications and that won’t happen until this school year ends.
Am I going to be hit with a series of marketing emails?
Absolutely not. There are costs involved in running a website. For example, here are just a few of mine:
- website hosting
- domain name registration and annual renewal
- subscriptions to databases for graphics and other materials
- the time taken to create resources that I am not using on earning additional income elsewhere
All the same, I aim to finance these costs through other channels. If you wish to support me in this, it’s appreciated but there is nothing on this site that forces you to spend money to access ideas. I do sell resources elsewhere both independently and through publishers but there is no hard sell here nor will there be in my emails to you. I always aim to offer a free version of my paid products or explain the steps to creating your own resources. My paid resources are not simply the materials I use in class posted up – it takes a phenomenal amount of time to prepare materials for other people because they have to be clear and avoid copyright infringement. If I want to pass a resource I’ve used to a colleague in my school, we can have a quick chat about how I used it, caveats, and ways I adapt it for different classes; this might take a few minutes. In contrast, providing the same guidance in written instructions takes a lot of time, including finding teachers (and possibly students) to test-drive the finished version. Then it’s back to tweaking and editing based on feedback and so it goes on. When done through a publisher, it’s even more time-consuming. To me, the time is worth it if it allows me more time to focus on this venture – supporting educators to be more culturally-sustaining instead of taking on tutoring or other jobs.
As a side note, a chat or conversation is not something I ever charge for! If you need support in your DEI journey, I offer multiple ways of connecting with me, including emails and – if you need it – video calls or live chats.
Who gets access to my email address?
Me. Just me. Always and forever. You should know that I currently use ConvertKit to automate the free downloads so you don’t have to wait for me to wake up and send them. However, that does not give any other human access to your details, and their privacy policy ensures the bots can’t use your email for anything other than me communicating with you.
I don't need those downloads anyway
Yes! I am so happy for you because teachers are often overworked and underpaid. If you are one of the fortunate ones to have time to take the ideas here and create your own materials, I applaud your life choices. It has taken me an exceptionally long time (slow learner?) to get to a place in my career where I have any free time, so I hope you got here quicker. Feel comfortable and safe knowing that my resources may be copyright but I invite you to ‘steal’ these ideas to use in your own classroom.
I’m sorry you don’t want to stay in touch, but I totally respect your decision and the door is always open should you change your mind.
What's your angle?
My ‘angle’ is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. It’s why I run this site, why I am a founding member of my school’s DEIJ team, and why I am studying a doctorate aimed at this goal. I recognise the learning around this will never end and that sometimes it’s exhausting – having a reciprocally-supportive community increases the chances of this being a sustainable effort.
The small income I receive from sales keeps me accountable to my community and avoids months or years of silence when people are waiting for more ideas or encouragement. And yet again – you do not have to spend a single penny or share your email to be most welcome here.
I still don't want to share my email
That’s OK! You are welcome to browse the blog, check back when you remember, and make use of the ideas here. There is no obligation to share your email or any other personal information. All I ask is that you continue to keep an open mind about developing a more culturally-sustaining experience for those you teach.I hope you are inspired to keep thinking of how to honour your students’ identities – it’s a journey that has no end point, but is ever-rewarding.
I have more questions
Email me and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can – abena@diversityinmind.com