THE ONGOING WORK OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Creating a diverse school where every member feels valued is a top priority. There is much to be proud of. Taft’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Planning Committee (DEISPC) continuously evaluates the school’s DEI work. They create guideposts and assess the impact of DEI initiatives on every aspect of school operations. The Committee, made up of Taft trustees, faculty, and staff, undertook a comprehensive audit—a “state of the state,” if you will—to better understand where we are as a school in an effort to most effectively build a roadmap for moving forward.

The results of the audit help shape Taft’s critical DEI work in six areas: academics, admissions, student life, DEI resources, alumni relations, and faculty recruitment, retention, and training. In each of those areas, the audit revealed tremendous progress and meaningful successes. It also revealed areas of opportunity for continued growth and specific and important actions that we must undertake to keep our community strong and connected—a place where everyone feels welcome, and shares a sense of belonging. If our mission is the education of the whole student, it necessarily follows that we must shape the whole of every student, and more than ever in our history, we are committed to that goal.

RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL diversity

Religious and spiritual diversity at Taft provides us with a real array of insights and understanding of the world and one another. Providing opportunities for religious and spiritual expression offers some students a feeling of home and community; for others it is a time of growth and renewal. The school’s Religious and Spiritual Life Council brings students across religious and spiritual perspectives together to create those opportunities; it serves students of every faith, identity and background at Taft. While each year is different, our community has included and honored Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Jains, a full range of Christian beliefs, and many spiritual, non-religious students. This is a rich, full, rewarding, and exciting part of what makes Taft Taft.