Victoria Bynum has been teaching preschool for 15 years, the last three of those at River Forest's Willard School, and says that during her career, inclusive preschool classrooms have been considered the best practice for children.

Dr. Kennedi Dixon, divisional special education director at District 200, says OPRF has a number of ways to include students of all abilities throughout their high school years.

In school districts in Oak Park and River Forest, inclusion in the classroom starts with the youngest students and continues through high school.

Our public institutions are working to formulate and implement equity policies. But what about  equity in cultural institutions? Elizabeth Chadri, program director for the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, plainly states, "Arts and cultural organizations have the potential to bring about social change and should therefore reflect the diversity of the community. The arts play a significant role in engaging our community, and they need to reflect our community's diversity."