Racial Equity Task Force

“WE ASK THAT YOU LEAVE ROOM AND SPACE FOR BLACK VOICES. WE ASK THAT YOU WORK HARD TO EDUCATE YOUR PEERS, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF CSW. WE ASK THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BLACK STUDENTS ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO BE THEIR VOICE, BUT TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICE. WE ASK THAT YOU USE YOUR ANGER NOT TO DROWN OUT THEIRS, BUT TO FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE.

Statement from CSW United Students of Color June 2020

Charge

The CSW Racial Equity Task Force will define desired outcomes for the experience of Black and Brown students, and determine which data to collect and analyze to ensure that CSW continues to make progress on advancing racial equity. It will also analyze existing data and produce a report with findings and recommendations, which the Dean of Equity and Inclusion and the Head of School will present to the Board of Trustees.

Purpose

Concerns have been voiced about racial equity on our campus We want to dig deeper and give more voice to students who identify as Black and Brown CSW is a microcosm of the larger society and we have to address these issues here first We want to include the community in this process, hence the different constituencies represented in the task force (board members, administrators, faculty, staff, students, alums, parents) and focus groups.

Goals for CSW

Ensure Black and Brown students have equitable access to opportunity and participation in school life. Make sure Black and Brown students feel supported, affirmed, and experience a sense of belonging. Embrace anti-racism as a way of being: a school free of racial bias and institutional racism.

We want to identify what racial disparities exist in terms of access and experience, and make recommendations for how to address them.

Timeline

JANUARY

Begin data collection using focus groups and other empirical data. Finalize collection protocol and initiate rollout.

FEBRUARY

Continue data collection. Begin data analysis in small groups.

MARCH

Continue data analysis. Identify themes, trends, and findings. Present findings within task force.

APRIL

Draft recommendations and report.

A full report will be shared with the CSW community as soon as it is available.

The Racial Equity Task force plans to conduct focus groups with students and alumni/ae who identify as Black or Brown. They will be reaching out to provide specific information. The Task Force recognizes that there may be a level of distrust about providing information, and has therefore hired an independent consultant to facilitate these focus groups.

Task Force Members

Allie Altman P’12, Trustee Lace Campbell, Theater

Department Chair Lise Charlier, Head of School Jordan Clark, Director of

Community Programs for

Diversity Equity & Inclusion Neta Crawford P’18, Trustee Lindsay Gould ’18 Cynthia Harmon, Trustee Patricio Hernández,

Spanish Faculty,

Administrative Council Qai Hinds ’23 Tara Keppler P’15,’18,’20,

Director of Admissions Dmitri Kiryk ’21 Meira Levinson P’24 Fredrick Mann P’23 Bernice Ruiz, Counselor, Health

Educator, Dorm Parent Rosanna Salcedo, Dean of

Equity and Inclusion Diane Scott P’23 Kevin Smith, Science

Department Chair Folashade and Jesse

Solomon P’23 Kareema Thomas ’08 Rae Walker ’13 Warren Wang ’23 Anna Whitney ’21