Har vard-Westlake recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral and not antithetical to educational excellence. To cultivate an environment intentionally and create authentic, meaningful, lasting change. We belie ve, as well, that achie ving our vision and enabling e ver y member of the community only to our community but also to society and our world. While the work is not at all easy, it is imperative
J A N I NE H A N C O CK JON E S, HEAD OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
AFF INI TY GR OU P S
Affinity groups bring people together in a shared space to learn about, recognize, and celebrate a specific identity, whether race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. At Harvard-Westlake, we pride ourselves on the fact that all of our groups are open to all interested members of our community.
On the student side, we have 21 student affinity groups between the upper and middle school campuses. The umbrella student group is SLIDE (Student Leaders for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) and is comprised of the leaders of numerous student affinity groups, including Asian American Culture Club (AACC), Asian Students in Action (ASiA), Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club (BLACC), Boot Squad, Empower (upper school female empowerment group), Gender and Sexuality Awareness (GSA), the Jewish Club, Jewish Culture and Antisemitism Awareness Club (JCAAC), Latinx/Hispanic Student Organization (LAHSO), Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA), Middle Eastern Affinity Club (MEAC), Girls Club (middle school female empowerment group), South Asian Student Association (SASA), and Women of Color, along with their faculty advisors and the DEI office. SLIDE works individually and collectively to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are present in all aspects of the HW community. The group meets regularly to collaborate on events and to serve as a support system for member groups.
On the adult side, we have affinity groups for parents, alumni, and faculty/staff with groups such as the Armenian Families Group (AFG), Cultural Heritage & Arts of India (CHAI), Chinese Cultural Club (HWCCC), HW Pacific Islander & Filipino Family Alliance, French Club (HWFC), Jewish Family Alliance (HWJFA), Japanese-American Affinity Group (JAG), Korean American Parents’ Association (KAPA), Latin American Parents’ Association (LAPA), Parents of African-American Harvard-Westlake Students (PAAHWS), Parents of LGBTQ+ Students, African-American Alumni Network (HWAAAN), Korean Alumni Network, LGBTQ+ Alumni Network, and Black Caucus (HWBC - HW faculty and staff).
CIVIL RIGH TS T OU R
Students and teachers engage with histor y annually by exploring the sites of the Civil Rights Movement, creating a bridge between classroom knowledge and lived experience. We see where Rosa Parks boarded the
Civil Rights Movement,
We visit the basement of a house that made up part of the Underground Railroad and go to the new National Memorial for Peace and Justice, contending with the histor y of lynching as we read metal planks listing the names of those lynched. We sit in the church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached and stand at the site of his assassination. The trip gives students aspects of U.S.
histor y. “ T HE C R E A T O R S OF T HE L Y NCHING M E MOR I A L SUSP EN D E D M E T A L S L A B S F R OM T REE S T O M I M I C B OD IE S, FO RCING T HE O B S ERVER T O C O N T E MP L A T E T HE A W FU L S CENE OF A PU BLIC L Y NCHING . I C OU L D N ’ T HEL P B UT L OO K FO R EVI D ENCE OF MY LINE A GE O N T HE S L A B S, A N D W A T CH T HE O T HE R ADU L TS A N D KI D S DO T HE SAM E . ” CHR I S J ON ES, UPP ER SCH OO L D E A N
Ever y fall, Har vard-Westlake sends six students to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, a multiracial, multicultural gathering of high school student leaders from across the United States and abroad. The conference focuses on selffor social justice practice through dialogue, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles. Students return from SDLC to share what they have learned with their
Conferences & Events
D IVE RS I TY R EC RU I T ING F A I R
Har vard-Westlake hosted the inaugural Southern California Diversity Recruiting Fair in Februar y 2019 and continues to host it annually on our upper school campus. The primar y goal of the fair is to expose independent schools to numerous job candidates from underrepresented groups at one time. This fair also gives attendees the opportunity to learn about working in an independent school, build resume writing incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into their work
The People of Color Conference is hosted annually by the National Association of Independent Schools. The mission of the conference is “to provide a safe space for leadership and professional de velopment and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools.” Har vardWestlake has participated in the conference since its inception more than 30 years ago and for the past few years has sent more than 25 employees annually.
Every fall, Harvard-Westlake hosts the Pollyanna Conference to explore DEI-related topics and share ideas that encourage participants to become agents of change in their communities. Previous themes have included exploring structural racism, understanding implicit bias, reimagining gender/sexual orientation in schools, courageous conversations, and reimagining resilience with resolve.
STUD EN T D IVER S I TY LE AD E RS HI P C O N F E R ENC E
“ T O M E , SD LC M E A N S ENLIGH T EN M EN T . I BELIEVE D MYS EL F T O BE P RE TT Y E DU C A T E D REG A R D IN G C U L TUR E , SO CI A L I SSU E S , A N D D IVER S I T Y , B UT SD L C O PENE D MY E Y E S T O T H E F A C T T H A T I H AD MU C H MOR E T O LE AR N . SD L C T AU GH T M E P R INCI P LE S T H A T C A N ’T BE LE AR NE D IN A CL ASS R OOM, SU C H AS LE AD E RS HI P S KILL S A N D W A YS T O BE A N A L L Y A N D E DU C A T E O T HE RS . T HE T HING T H A T I V A L U E T HE MOST F R OM MY SD L C E XP E R IENCE , H O WEVE R, W A S T HE E X P OSU RE T O MA N Y D I FF E R EN T PE O PLE FRO M V AR I OUS B A C K G ROU N D S A N D T HE IN TRODU C T I O N T O NEW VIEWP O IN TS A N D P E RSP EC T IVE S. I MAD E A L O T OF FR IEN DS A T SD LC , BEC AM E MU CH MO RE AW AR E , A N D S EE T HE W OR L D IN A D I FF E R EN T W A Y N O W . ” D ANI EL N ., C L A S S OF 202 1
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OP LE OF C O L OR C O N F E R ENC E
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P O L LYA
“ T HE D EP T H A N D AUT HEN T ICI T Y OF T HE C O NVER S A T I O N S A N D T HE G RO W T H- O RIEN T E D M IN DS E T LE FT M E F EELING S O IN S PI R E D T O C O N T IN U E T H E C O NVE RS A T I O N A N D D E V O T E MY T I M E A N D ENERG Y T O D E I W OR K . HE AR ING T HE KI D S S PE A K W AS ENLIGH T ENING , A N D I W AS T OU CHE D B Y H O W C OU R A GE OUS A N D A R T IC U L A T E T HE Y WE R E . BEIN G A PO L LY A NN A OF SORT S MYS EL F , I BELIEVE T H A T WI T H H OP E , OPT I M I SM, A N D RE A LT I M E C O NVE RS A T I O N , WE C A N W OR K T O GE T HER T O MA KE A D I FF E R ENCE . ” L A U R I E W O LKE, HE AD OF L A U RE N CE SCH OO L
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Curriculum & Campus Culture
C UR RIC U L UM AW AR ENE S S
Research shows that a diverse curriculum unequivocally research and has taken steps to incorporate it into classes, revamping our histor y courses to focus more on the world (rather than just Europe), adopting the singular “they,” and including texts that provide a counternarrative to more traditional choices.
D IVE RS I TY C OU NCI L
In the 2018–2019 school year, Har vard-Westlake formed the inaugural Diversity Council. The 30-member council was comprised of a cross -section of the community, and alums. The council conducted a strengths -andweaknesses analysis, consulted experts, researched proven practices, and created a DEI philosophy and a set of goals.
GEN D E R AW AR ENE S S
We strive to create an environment where all genders are valued. Recent changes have included removing gendered language from HW publications and classrooms wherever possible, creating gender-neutral bathrooms, and removing gender designations from elected positions such as prom court and the student ambassador program.
ANTI-RACISM
Harvard-Westlake recognized the need for substantive work on diversity, equity, and inclusion long before the national inflection point around race in the summer of 2020. That national reckoning, however, accelerated our mission-critical and mission-aligned work around anti-racism. We define anti-racism as the active opposition to systemic racism through intentional actions, policies, and practices. This opposition must be present at the individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural levels, with understanding and commitment from all in the HarvardWestlake community, as we all bear responsibility for the fulfillment of our mission. In keeping with our DEI Commitments, and in response to a forceful call to action from students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff, we redoubled our efforts to examine and improve our current practices, to make our DEI work more integrated and farreaching, and to make anti-racism an essential element of our curriculum and culture.
LE AR NING S PECI A LI ST S
Har vard-Westlake supports diverse learners, from students facing emotional challenges to those with learning differences.
JE NN G A B R AI L, LE A R NING RES OU RCE S P EC IA L I S T
“EVERYONE DOESN’T THINK, LEARN, PROCESS INFORMATION, OR DO THINGS IN THE SAME WAY. WE LET STUDENTS KNOW THAT THAT ’S OKAY. WE’RE HERE TO HELP THEM PINPOINT EXACTLY WHAT ’S GOING ON IN THEIR BRAINS AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.”
stay engaged • experience discomfort
• speak your truth • expect and accept non-closure
• keep an open mind • assume good intentions
• always be respectful
“ I REALLY FELT THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY HELPED ME GROW. I AM BEGINNING MY SEVENTEENTH YEAR TEACHING AND HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS ONE IS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST OF MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES.”
minority myth.
Professional Development
NEW FA C U LTY / S TAFF D EI T R A ININ G
monthly to break bread together and discuss culturally responsive teaching practices, and gender in today’s world.
I MP LICI T BI AS T R A ININ G
Employees at Har vard-Westlake undergo training to increase cultural awareness and learn strategies to reduce their own implicit biases in an open and understanding environment .
Each school year begins with a two-day session to build new employees’ cultural awareness and understanding. The school brings in an internationally renowned expert known for his expertise on matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Tricia Rose is a professor and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America as well as an author and speaker on 20th centur y African American culture and politics, social thought , popular culture, and gender issues. She spoke to the Har vard-Westlake community about structural racism.
SAF E S PA CE T R A ININ G
Training sessions, in which they learn about concepts related to gender identity, gender expression, assigned sex at birth, and sexual orientation. Participants use this knowledge to consider how they can better support , include, and value LGBTQ+ members of the Har vard-Westlake community.
SP E A KER S
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a consideration for ever y guest speaker, but we also regularly bring in
SUMM E R RE AD IN G
Each summer, Harvard-Westlake faculty and staff read a book focused on a particular diversity, equity, and inclusion theme. Some examples include Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott, From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement by Paula Yoo, Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do by Dr. Claude Steele, Safe Is Not Enough: Better Schools for LGBTQ Students by Michael Sadowski, and Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Dr. Mahzarin Banaji and Dr. Anthony Greenwald.
ANON Y MO U S H A RV A R D - WE S T L A KE F A C U LT Y M E M BE R B R O WN B A G L U NCHE S
Brown Bag Lunch with Drew Ishii, who teaches math at Sage Hill School
Ms. Rosetta Lee, the outreach specialist at Seattle Girls School and a spoke at Har vard-Westlake about microaggressions.
“ T HE C O NCE PT OF D IVE RS I TY AS E SS EN T I A L T O E X CELLENCE I S WELL BRINGING T H AT C O NCE PT T O LI F E RE QU I R E S D EEP A N D A BI D ING H AR V A R D -WE ST L A KE E XPR E SS E S I T T HI S W A Y: ‘OU R C OMM I TM EN For the latest information, visit hw.com/DEI or use the QR code below. “ T HE C O NCE PT OF D IVE RS I TY AS E SS EN T I A L T O E X CELLENCE I S WELL KN O WN , B U T BRINGING T H AT C O NCE PT T O LI F E RE QU I R E S D EEP A N D A BI D ING C OMM I TM EN T. H AR V A R D -WE ST L A KE E XPR E SS E S I T T HI S W AY: ‘OU R C OMM I TM EN T T O INCL US I O N WILL EN A BLE EVER Y M E M BE R OF T HE C OMMU NI TY T O F EEL A N E QUA L S EN S E O F BEL O NGING .’ T H AT ’S A B O L D ASP I R AT I O N IN A W O RL D SO OFT EN D IVI D E D B Y D I FF ERENCE S OF RA CE , R ELIGI O N , I D EN T I T Y, OR B A C K G ROU N D , B UT WE BELIEV E T H AT H AR V ARD -WE ST L A KE MUST STR IVE FOR T HI S I D E A L , A N D WE MUST RE DOU BL E OUR E FFO R TS WHENEVE R A N D WHE R EVE R WE F A LL S H O R T. WI T H OUT A N ‘ E QUA L
OF
’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS MEAN LITTLE, AND ALL
R I CK C OMMON S, P RES ID E N T AND HE AD OF SCH OO L
you have questions, contact Janine Hancock Jones, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, at jjones@hw.com.
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