Posted December 03, 2020 in Articles
Author: ReGinae Goodwin Reynolds, Director of Campus Life,
Diversity Advocate Verna Myers once said: “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” These words have guided me throughout my 18 plus years in the diversity space. But it was only a few years ago that I learned this famous quote was missing something.
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If diversity is being invited to the party, and inclusion is being asked to dance, then how does equity find its way to the celebration? We must ensure EVERYONE has the proper transportation to make it to the party in the first place. It’s quite pointless to extend invitations and take the extra step to be inclusive if we are not making certain that everyone involved has an equal opportunity to take part in the fun.
Though this analogy invokes humor to get the point across, Lawrence School knows how critical it is for us to maintain an environment that celebrates diversity, is inclusive of all our members, and ensures equity takes center stage in everything we do.
The following is one of our school's guiding principles: Respect and acceptance for self and others form the foundation of our school. We aspire for all members of our community to value and celebrate the many aspects of individual identity and human diversity. My goal, as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is to ensure that our institution not only remains committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, but connects this commitment to the day-to-day lived experience of our community.
To assist me with leading this charge, a group of faculty, staff, and alumni have been assembled into IMPACT, the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee. We've been charged to bring our school community together—building, fostering, and sustaining an environment where DEI is not only required, but truly celebrated. Through ongoing programs, outreach, and supports, IMPACT seeks to strengthen and engage multicultural and multidimensional competency. IMPACT also serves as an advocacy resource for faculty, students, staff, and families.
To date, we have embarked on the following new initiatives:
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In the Middle School we introduced a new course: The Untold History of the United States. The class explores stories of minority heroes who are not typically represented in traditional textbooks. Our hope is that every student at Lawrence can see faces like their own in our curriculum.
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In the High School, we have created a diversity series called, CommUNITY Chat. We engage students in activities and programs that spark dialogue and open conversations about diversity and inclusion in the world.
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Our faculty and staff have been, and will continue to be, engaged in programming and training that aims to provide space and time for hard conversations and important discussions.
In addition to the above, we hope to:
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Establish a process for recruiting, hiring, and retaining faculty/staff of color. This includes, developing a DEI dimension to the onboarding process.
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Thoroughly review Lawrence's K–12 curriculum and provide recommendations to ensure various perspectives and voices are acknowledged/reflected.
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Pilot a speaker series that provides our community an opportunity to explore issues at the intersection of DEI, learning differences, and teaching/learning.
The journey of DEI work is not a quick, straight line from point A to point B. There will be twists and turns and bumps and detours along the way. However, we are committed, as an institution, to ensuring we have the necessary conversations, even when they are tough, so the needs of all students, staff, and families are met with high regard for the unique aspects of each person’s diverse background. We’re well on our way—and we invite you to join us!