Council member backs Intro 909 to require DEI training for school leaders after viral CEC incident

Council member Althia Stevens on Bronx Talk described Intro 909, a local law she introduced to require diversity, equity and inclusion training for educational leaders in the city's schools. She said the measure was prompted in part by a viral clip of a parent at a Community Education Council (CEC) meeting making "vile" comments about people of color.

"There's not a lot of training on anti-Blackness," Stevens said. "We are always hearing about hate crimes and typically it's reserved for anti-Semitism or the LGBT community, but there's a long-standing history of anti-Blackness and that's not ever talked about." She said Intro 909 aims to make leaders in school governance settings more aware of racial bias and cultural context.

Stevens acknowledged that opponents frame DEI as a national political issue but said local officials must address how racial bias affects students and families in city schools. "Their agenda is theirs and my agenda is my agenda," she said.

What's next: The interview discussed Stevens' rationale and community concerns but did not record a Council vote or a schedule for committee consideration. No formal fiscal analysis or enforcement mechanism for the training requirement was described on-air.

Reporting notes: The transcript identifies the parent incident as occurring at a CEC meeting (Community Education Council). Stevens used the phrase "anti-Blackness" and emphasized training targeted to school leaders; the interview did not include text of the proposed local law or an explanation of who would be responsible for delivering and certifying the training.