Anthony Ferguson Jr.
Executive director of equity, inclusion and diversity
West Des Moines Community Schools
Age: 30
Why he’s a Forty: He founded an organization that assists individuals and groups who desire to make a cultural shift in their organization in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion. He serves on the Zeta Kappa Lambda Educational Foundation, an organization that has awarded over $40,000 in scholarships to students in the Central Iowa community. He has conducted groundbreaking research into the lived experience of Black university faculty members serving at predominantly white institutions.
What are your goals in your role at your company?
In this inaugural role in WDMCS, it is my responsibility to lead the district in its efforts to create a more inclusive and equity learning environment. Through collaboration across the district, we set goals that are both measurable and data driven to ensure we stay in alignment with our core values.
What are your goals for your community involvement?
Our goal is to educate the stakeholders within our communities, and bring awareness to systemic challenges that our most vulnerable and marginalized populations are facing. We aim to further develop a culture of inclusion, equity and anti-racist practices in the effort to enrich the learning experience of our students.
What's your biggest passion, and why?
Empowering, inspiring and motivating youth in my community is my biggest passion. Working to ensure that each child, no matter their race or socioeconomic status, has access to resources to maximize their fullest potential is where I find my raison d’etre. My life is a testament that it truly takes a village, and now it is my responsibility to assist the next generation.
What is it that drives you?
Being able to see the power that compassion and empathy have in the lives of our youth is what drives me in this work. So much of what we have been taught has been a false narrative to hide the fact that we are all in this together. I am driven by the desire to want to leave our world in a better state than I have found it.
What are your future aspirations?
Launching the Center for Equity Focused Learning (CEFL) has been a passion project of mine in the works for over 10 years. CEFL allows professionals to have dialogue with leading experts to understand what equity and inclusion truly looks like in our organizations. CEFL centers solutions and people first, and reaffirms the idea that when we know better, we can do better. Check us out at www.centerforequityfocusedlearning.com.
Three hobbies: Binge-watching something on Netflix. Traveling around the Midwest. Reading some historical fiction literature.
Fun Fact: He presented a Ted Talk at the University of Iowa titled “The Power of Secrets!”
ONE word: Empathy.
What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community?
My wish for the Central Iowa business community is for us to advocate for marginalized groups, support the sick and the homeless, and be a voice for children and other vulnerable populations on the fringe of society. It is my hope that collectively we can stand in the gap for the least of them.
Anything else you haven't addressed that people must know about you?
In 2010, I was recruited to the University of Iowa on a full athletic scholarship. Go Hawks! Since that time I have been committed to this community and the people in it. Being a change agent and a voice in the lives of our most vulnerable populations is at the center of who I am. Any opportunities to further engage in that work is welcomed.