Marist School Diversity Statement
Marist School seeks to foster a community of inclusion that respects the dignity of the individual in the areas of age, gender, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, culture, and sexual orientation. This obligation to build a community of inclusion is based on Sacred Scripture, the Teachings of the Catholic Church, and the spirit and traditions of the Society of Mary. All members of the Marist School community are responsible for advancing an understanding of and a respect for diversity.
Diversity Program
The work of creating a community of inclusion, where individuals are respected, is an essential outgrowth of the Marist mission and the values of the Society of Mary. Diversity activities often challenge participants’ assumptions, long-held beliefs, and habits, calling on different groups to recognize their similarities and celebrate their differences. Marist is committed to building diversity in its student body, faculty, and staff, as a core value of the school community.
Though extracurricular student groups promoting diversity have existed at Marist School since the early 1990s, a formal diversity initiative at the school began in 2002 under the leadership of then-president Rev. Richmond J. Egan, S.M. In 2004, the school hired the School’s first dedicated director of diversity activities, Ms. LePrêt Dickinson Williams. She was asked to develop a diversity plan and programming to reinforce Marist’s commitment to be a welcoming community for all. In 2006, the School adopted its first formal diversity statement.
The director of diversity activities provides opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to gain awareness of the unique contribution people of all backgrounds offer to the School. The diversity program at Marist benefits students by offering lifelong lessons about interacting with many types of people:
- Student diversity retreats - Marist has diversity retreats for students in high school and the Foundations program (grades 7-8). Each retreat program is structured around age-appropriate teaching and activities. High school retreats are held offsite in three-day, two-night sessions that include discussion, activities, role play, and reflection. Grades 7-8 engage in role play and discussion, with a focus on self awareness (recognizing similarities and differences between themselves and others).
- Guest speakers and cultural events – Each year, the office of diversity activities sponsors a speaker in conjunction with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations. The office also sponsors other speakers as the opportunity arises. The director of diversity activities coordinates with members of the faculty to provide cultural events that expand student awareness and are an integral part of the educational experience.
- Conferences – Marist sponsors students, faculty, and staff at two conferences each year: the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) People of Color Conference and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference. This conference offers faculty ways to enhance their coursework and classroom environment. Students attend the conference in preparation for becoming leaders in the Mosaic student group and help develop activities in the retreat program. In addition, conferences allow faculty and students to gain new perspectives on diversity issues and network with peers from independent schools throughout the nation.
- Affinity groups – The office of diversity sponsors groups with common backgrounds to provide support, mentoring, and a safe environment for discussion.
- Multicultural alumni outreach – The office of diversity activities maintains relationships with multicultural alumni for purposes of community building and support, as well as to provide mentors for multicultural students. Multicultural alumni also serve as guest speakers on campus and support students through informal social interaction.
- Mosaic – The office of diversity activities works with the director of student activities to provide students an extracurricular club devoted to issues of diversity. The director of diversity activities serves as one of the two moderators for Mosaic, a club which offers students the chance to recognize and discuss the beauty and intricacies of cultural diversity within the Marist community and the world.
Students involved in diversity activities are called upon to be leaders who create positive change, and by their example teach respect and inclusiveness to others. Diversity activities at Marist offer students the opportunity to develop the skills they will need to promote acceptance and respect for others in every stage of their future lives. Diversity retreat activities are student-led, and each year students are given the opportunity to attend a conference focusing on student diversity leadership. On campus, students are offered the opportunity to hold leadership positions in multicultural groups such as Mosaic.
In addition to its work with students, the office of diversity activities is a resource for the academic program and the admissions office. For faculty, it offers class materials that relate to topics of diversity, including books, activities, videos, Web sites, and lesson plans. The director of diversity activities is available to advise teachers on developing courses to include topics of diversity.
The director of diversity activities serves as an adjunct to the admissions staff and is available as needed to consult on admissions diversity goals. She is a member of the Admissions Review Committee, the body responsible for recommending admissions decisions to the School.
For more information on diversity activities at Marist, please contact Mrs. Audra Brown-Ward. |