Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

Since its inception in 1965 in President Lyndon B. Johnson's "war on poverty," the federal Head Start program has served nearly 40 million children and their families in preparing to succeed in school and life. Head Start has faced a number of challenges in recent years, including flat funding, new mandates, attacks from the Trump Administration and a proposal to eliminate the program entirely. On this episode, we here from different Head Start stakeholders in Iowa about the services this program provides to young children and their families, how they are managing this changing landscape and what the future may hold for this program.

One of Iowa’s largest school districts will be looking to hire a new superintendent. The Sioux City School Board accepted its leader’s resignation after he spent less than a year with the district.

The third annual Iowa Farmers of Color Conference takes place Saturday, Dec. 6. It's an opportunity for farmers of color from around the Midwest to come to together to learn from each other and build community. Sixth-generation farmer Todd Western III joins the program to preview the event. We also get to know another founder of Iowa Farmers of Color, Hannah Scates Kettler. She and her husband co-own Minerva's Meadow, an organic, no-till flower farm located near State Center. Then, we learn more about how farming has played a role in Black resiliency and activism for centuries from Felicite Wolfe of the African American Museum of Iowa. The exhibit "Rooted: Labor, Land and Legacy," shares the struggles and triumphs that Black farmers have seen in Iowa and the U.S. through present day.

Hundreds of Midwest law enforcement agencies are now working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is raising big questions about civil rights and community trust.

The Iowa Board of Regents is directing teachers at public universities to avoid what they call indoctrination of one perspective. For some educators, the changes raise questions about where to draw the line between opinion and scientific truth.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird launched an investigation Wednesday into the University of Iowa for allegedly violating a state law that restricts diversity, equity and inclusion programs.