Graduate school holding a diversity committee meeting. What do I need to do to be effective? I created an affinity group for first generation students at my graduate school. Shortly after, the school's diversity committee emailed the student government informing us that there would be a diversity committee panel on the issue of being first gen. It seems like sort of an informal lunch between students and faculty.

I am thinking there are two possible reasons the school is holding this meeting. 1) they are trying to look good by taking initiative before students start making noise or 2) the school cares deeply about the issue. I'm inclined to believe its reason 1 because the school took zero steps to contact me or any of my first gen acquaintances to see what help or resources we needed, and is only having a "first" discussion about this issue right after I created the group even though this is by no means a new issue.

At any rate, not sure the motives for the meeting matter except insofar as me knowing how much I can get the school to change its approach to this issue. In other words how much do they actually care about what I have to say and how do I hold them accountable to act on any requests I make? I have a bunch of (very actionable and easy) ideas - e.g. distributing surveys that ask students questions such as "are you first gen" and then having the school appropriately match an advisor/mentor - but is this the forum to express those ideas? If so, at what level of detail? What I really care about is just getting the school to do the things I want it to do. How much work is done in that meeting, and how do I follow up "behind the scenes"? How much leverage do I have as a student? Any advice appreciated!
We (and indeed you) clearly cannot read the minds of those who have called the meeting, however I'd like to suggest a third option:

Someone in the administration is definitely trying to do something, but because universities are large and cumbersome organizations, change takes time.

The best things you can do are heading to that meeting prepared (which you appear to have done) and with an open mind. Assume the intent is to have a productive meeting, but also one that likely won't have a great deal of actionable things come out of it. First meetings rarely do. Express that you've got ideas, and are willing to work with them. And find out who the people are who you should be talking to - if the meeting does seem like it's sincere, try to finish by identifying at the very least who you should talk to about "next steps".

In terms of leverage? Almost none. But that doesn't mean you can't get things done - university administrators are human beings, and they too care about things. For example, at my university, the problems of first generation students are taken quite seriously and we still struggle at times.