Affinity Groups @ HIES

JAYLA JACKSON, co-Editor-in-Chief______

“Affinity Groups play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed.” This excerpt from Pittsburg University’s diversity curriculum embodies the role that affinity groups have taken in the Holy Innocents community. An affinity group is a group formed around a shared interest or common goal, to which individuals formally or informally belong and these groups have begun appearing all around campus. Holy Innocents has prided itself on being a diverse community fea turing members of different faiths, races, gender identifications, and interests. Along with diversity, there is an equipped team of professionals dedicated to multicultural affairs on campus. Keith White and Adrienne Rowe head the upper school team and have worked as advisors for many of the new affinity spaces.

The first affinity group on campus, with about 70 members, is the Black Student Union. The black student union, otherwise known as BSU, was created with the intention of establishing a safe space for black-iden tifying students to exclusively indulge in shared culture and strategize ways to facilitate conversations about race on campus. Member of BSU and Executive Board, Alma Frazier, shares with C&G what BSU means to her. “Walking into BSU feels like walking into my friend’s block party, where everyone knows everyone, where we’re all able to talk and share experiences in our own bubble of the HI community. BSU was the first place on campus where I truly felt at home.” She shares a similar sentiment with many other members, including me. As a black-identifying person on campus, BSU became a second home. I could share my per sonhood with people I didn’t have to explain it to. It gave me students to connect with and adult members I could grow close to, and I did both.

The Black Student Union executive board has done a phenomenal job maintaining a protected environment and serving the campus. A round of applause is due to the group’s President - Ariel Abernathy, Vice Presi dent - Skyler Hall, Communications Director - Alma Frazier, Director of Events - Jayla Jackson, and Spirit Chair - Olivia Hutcherson.

In the same spirit, the Asian Cultural Association has become a highlight in on-campus activities. Asian Cultural Association is an affinity group that aims to create a space that celebrates Asian culture and traditions with the HI community. They have hosted phenomenal events for the Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Mid-Autmn festivals. Founder and President Tony Wang told the C&G the reason he started the group. “I started it with the intention to spread Asian culture with holiday celebrations and bring joy to Asian students and the entire campus. It’s the only space on campus that teaches and shares aspects of Asian culture. I hope the club can continue its interest in celebrating Asian traditions with everyone and promoting inclusivity for all students to continue to celebrate Asian culture.” One of the most beneficial parts of an affinity group is having a home for incoming new memebers. Places that can make you immediately feel safe. Freshamn member, Sophia Siddiqui, shares her favorite parts of the club with the C&G.

“It’s a really cool way to see other asian cultures. I didn’t know much about Chinese culture and now I’ve had great cultural experiences with it.” She also shares her hopes for the future of the club. “Since my culture is revolved around religion it’s been hard to integrate Pakistani culture. But as a whole, religion is a major part of Asian culture and I hope that in the future we will create opportunities to explore that.”

Our affinity groups create homes for students of the same race, culture, and sexual orientation. The GayStraight Alliance or GSA is offered to LGBTQ-identifying students and allies. The group meets once a month hosting lunch and learns and other opportunities to learn and connect with our LGBTQ-identifying population. The club is advised by Jamela Reed, upper school biology teacher, and senior class President, Alma Frazier. The C&G talked with the vice president and next leader of the group Colin Weldon.

“I’m a part of GSA because I think it’s important for schools to have a place where students can talk openly about LGBTQ+ issues. It’s also great place to meet other people who are interested in the commnuity. “ He also shares his plans for the next year to come. “ I’d really like to work on involving GSA in service projects and generally expanding the club. I like what we started with the Day of Silence last year and I want to do more projects like that. What he

is reffering to is a highschool-wide

What Colin is reffering to is the highschool-wide moevemnt where students chose to stay silent for a day to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ children who have been sildenced in their identity. Affinity groups are beneficial to communities because it foster enviornemnts where acts of service like the Day of Silence can take place. Along with BSU, ACA, and GSA there are many more groups on campus this spring. The Jewish Student Union is headed by Katherine Poch for jewish identfying students and allies. The JSU held a beautiful Rosh Hashanaa program and were a vital part of last years Christmas around the World events. Multicultural Club is a space for mixed race/culture students headed by Jezel Harmon. Hispanic Cultural Club led by Haidee Quechol, Sherlyn Sanchez, and Matthew Vickers is for hispanic identyfying students and allies. Hispanic music and food flooded the luch room for the Dia de Los Muertos reperesentation. And our newest group, Afro-Islander Club for African and Islander heritage students is led by Nathaniel Adegoke and Alston Goodwin.

As our school population grows and our diversity continues to diversify in intersectionality, we hope the student body continues to seek opportunities to create safe spaces for bears of every identification.