Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

• What is equity and inclusion?

  Equity is achieved when people have what they need to participate in community life and reach their full potential, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Equity ensures that essential programs, services, activities, and technologies are accessible to all. Equity is the expression and execution of genuine respect, ethical behavior, and treating every member of the community with dignity.

  
  Inclusion is authentically taking every individual’s experience and identity into account and creating conditions where all feel accepted, safe, empowered, supported, and affirmed. Inclusivity also promotes and enacts the sharing of power and recognition of interdependence, where individuals and community members share responsibility for expressing core values and maintaining respect for differences in the spirit of care and cooperation. (NAIS.org)

• Fay’s community is already very diverse. Why do we need to have these kinds of conversations?

  As stated in Fay’s Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, “through ongoing attention to the diverse identities of our community members, we strive to maintain a positive culture in which every person is valued and treated with dignity. Students and adults at Fay work to develop the skills necessary for constructive engagement with our rapidly changing world. We are committed to honest reflection on the differences and commonalities that enrich our lives.” 

  
  

  Equity and inclusion work is ongoing, language evolves with the world around us, and students today are more equipped than ever before to engage in conversations about identity, even at a young age. Through our equity and inclusion work here on campus, our students learn how to think critically about systems and structures, make their own thoughtful decisions, and participate in meaningful conversations. Our work here at Fay is consistent with NAIS Principles of Good Practice for Equity and Justice.

• What is Community Connections?

  Community Connections is an optional workshop forum open to all Upper School students that takes place approximately once per month. Workshops are led by both faculty and students; participants engage in conversations about identity, community, and events in the world around us. The mission of Community Connections is to foster respect and welcome all voices as we promote dialogue and enhance the visibility of all our community members. We work to increase understanding, empathy, connection, and inclusion, and to celebrate the diversity and differences that make our community unique.
  
  Lower School Community Connections meets monthly during lunch and is open to 5th and 6th grade students.
  
  Parent Community Connections meets regularly over Zoom.

• What affinity groups are offered at Fay?

  Affinity groups at Fay meet on a rotating basis about once per month. 

  
  Fay offers two optional affinity groups in the Upper School: Students of Color and Q&A. Students of color is an umbrella term used for all people who identify as members of racially and/or ethnically marginalized groups. Q&A is an affinity group for students who identify as member of the LGBTQIA+ community. These spaces provide support, encouragement, and affirmation. They are places to share stories, experience solidarity, and are safe spaces for a community member to be fully and authentically themselves.
  
  Lower School students have an optional monthly Students of Color breakfast with Upper School students, and faculty and staff of color have gatherings throughout the year.

• Why are affinity groups important?

  Affinity groups bring together “groups of people who have an identifier in common, e.g. race, gender, religion, family status, etc. Affinity groups allow for an exploration of one’s own identity, celebration of shared identity, and debriefing of the common challenges and experiences that members of the identity group face. Affinity groups are one aspect of creating a diverse and socially just world. They create the safe space needed for people to build strength and pride. Having conversations in affinity groups allows us to examine some of the roots of why we see the world the way we do, allowing us to acknowledge that we may experience the world differently than someone else. This understanding engenders greater acceptance of other perspectives, allowing for more fruitful cross-cultural dialogues.” (Rosetta Lee, Seattle Girls’ School, Seattle, WA)

• I'm concerned that affinity groups promote separation instead of inclusion.

  Affinity groups are important to help students and adults from underrepresented groups feel included, seen, and understood. We believe that affinity groups provide critical support that helps individuals to more fully engage in the community, build stronger relationships across differences, and grow as school leaders.

• What learning opportunities are available for faculty and staff?

  Faculty and staff participate in equity and inclusion workshops led by Fay’s Director of Equity and Inclusion as well as outside experts throughout the year at Once-a-Month Monday meetings and professional development days each term. Fay also generously provides funding for faculty and staff to participate in outside professional development throughout the year. A list of just some of the workshops attended by faculty and staff members in recent years is below.

  
  

  AISNE DEI Conference

  AISNE Health and Wellness Conference

  Courageous Conversations

  CSEE Middle School Summit

  Diversity Direction

  The Equity Exchange

  Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG) Global Educators Conference

  Inclusion in the Early Years

  Inclusive Schools Network Institute

  Multicultural Teaching Institute

  NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute

  NAIS Equity Design Lab

  NAIS People of Color Conference

  National Diversity Practitioner’s Institute

  National Partnership for Educational Access

  Project Zero

  Stanley King Institute

• Who can I talk to if I have questions about equity and inclusion at Fay?

  Please contact Jill Anthony, Fay's Director of Equity and Inclusion. Her office is located in Root 128, and she can be reached at janthony@fayschool.org or at 508-490-8288.

  Please also check this webpage, as the book and resources section is updated each term.