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Diversity & Equity Newsletter

January 2024

Diversity & EquityNewsletterJanuary 2024

Awareness & Heritage Days

National Poverty in America Awareness Month

Poverty Awareness Month is a month-long initiative focused on ending poverty in America. During this month we raise awareness of the growth of poverty in the USA, where more than 70% of adults have less than $1000 in their savings accounts and living below paycheck to paycheck. The poverty line for a family of four (4) is $30,000 in yearly income. A full-time, $7.25 minimum wage salary for one person working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, with no vacation makes $15,080/year before taxes. This means that a household with two children and two full-time working adults making minimum wage would only be $160 over the poverty line, less than the average weekly grocery trip.


According to US News, a low-cost budget for a family of four is approximated to be $243 a week or about $1,055 monthly. At the poverty line income of $30,000, a family would be bringing home $2,500 monthly before taxes. Half of this income looks like it will need to go to food, before touching other necessities like rent/mortgage, transportation, medications, utilities, etc.


According to Census.gov, childhood poverty is the most prevalent type of poverty in the USA. In 2022, the national child poverty rate was 16.3% but there was significant variation among different states, ranging from 6.9% in New Hampshire to 26.4% in Mississippi.

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Ways to Help Fight Poverty in Your Community

  • Raise awareness of poverty and homelessness in your area.
  • Challenge negative preconceptions and ideas surrounding poverty and homelessness.
  • Organize a food or clothing drive benefitting a local shelter or food bank.
  • Donate to a community fridge, food bank, or food kitchen.
  • Make care kits for unhoused people with things like water, snacks, socks, gloves, toothbrushes, and other necessities.
  • Volunteer at organizations that help people experiencing poverty, like your local food bank.

How to Dance in Ohio

An image of the front of the Playbill for How to Dance in Ohio
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A Broadway Musical about Autistic Adults, Played by Autistic Adults

How to Dance in Ohio, a new Broadway Musical, is adapted from the award-winning documentary (2015) by the same name. It follows a crew of Autistic adults in a coming-of-age story as they prepare for a winter spring formal dance.


In a first-of-its-kind casting move, all Autistic characters are played by Autistic actors. Prior to this show, no Autistic Broadway characters have been played by actors that are openly Autistic. The show itself is family-friendly, and all showtimes are sensory friendly. Accessibility for the audience was a main consideration when creating this show.

Glossary & Suggestion Box

Diversity Terminology & Language Glossary
Check out the Diversity Terminology & Language Glossary for current terms and language used to talk about diversity topics. This document will be frequently updated to keep on top of the ever-changing conversations about language usage.
Diversity & Equity Suggestion Box
Do you have a topic or issue for the Diversity & Equity Committee to discuss? Have you found a resource, tool, etc you think would be beneficial to our goals? Do you have any questions or suggestions? This form is anonymous.

Expand Your DE&I Knowledge

Jamie Jenkins
Jamie is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters