Equity & Social Justice Commitment
As we become effective advocates for positive change, we foster growing minds with compassion and encourage resilience. We cherish individual identities. We actively challenge stereotypes and bias. We encourage discussion and inquiry about our world while we teach to dismantle the systems that perpetuate injustice. Emerson School honors the dignity of all people through our commitment to diversity, inclusivity, equity, and social justice.
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups bring people together based on a shared identity. This is particularly true for groups who are from minority or historically marginalized identities. Affinity groups give students the opportunity to be the dominant or majority group in the room.
When we talk with students about identity, we explain it as being parts of who they are which they cannot choose e.g. children cannot choose the family, race, religion or nationality that they are born into. Unlike a sport or craft, affinity groups are not clubs where students can choose if they are interested; they are groups for students who share an identity and want to meet together around that life experience. Affinity groups are not for allies or friends – those are other types of groups, which we can also provide if students would like.
Students can learn more about their identity, discuss questions, comments, concerns with students who share the same identity, speak openly within the group without pressure to educate others or explain an experience.
Students can decide if they’d like to join or form a group. They need to have an adult facilitator, and can ask an adult at Emerson School to help them form a group. Students can ask their own questions and choose their own topics for discussion.
As well as affinity groups, we offer some broader groups for students who want to learn more about identity, allyship, and how to build a supportive community. For 3rd and 4th grade we have Kaleidoscope, and for 5th – 8th grade we have GSA.
Kaleidoscope
This group meets one time a month after school. In an age-appropriate way, children talk about different types of identities. Thanks to Linda, our amazing librarian, we always begin with story books around a topic such as different types of families, holidays, abilities or nationalities. We then have some time for kids to share their stories and have an activity such as a game or craft that helps them express their thoughts around the topic.
GSA
Another monthly group, the Genders and Sexualities Alliance, is for all students from 5th – 8th grade who want to learn more about and be supportive of the LGBTQ+ people within our community. This is a supportive space for students who identify as LGBTQ+, who are questioning, and/or who want to be allies to those who are LGBTQ+. (This is not an affinity group.) The group uses discussion, crafts, music, and other fun activities to learn and think about how our school and our wider society treats individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. The GSA takes the lead in planning celebrations for Pride month.
