Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We provide children with opportunities to see not only themselves, but also other people, cultures, perspectives and ideas.

Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Latin School of Chicago enable us to fulfill an important element of our strategic plan, which commits us to “...cultivate a more inclusive and supportive climate for all constituents.”

These efforts also further our expressed desire to ensure that all students and faculty, particularly those historically underrepresented, use their voices and thrive. Latin is committed to fostering a school and classroom culture, and a curriculum that supports these goals. In practice, that means presenting students with authentic windows and mirrors, a variety of perspectives and meaningful, immersive experiences that allow them to understand themselves, others and the world around them.

DEI News & Events

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Commemoration

Learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Commemoration

Latin Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a Day of Commemoration

Learn more about Latin Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a Day of Commemoration

Learning for Justice at Latin: In Action (Part 2)

Learn more about Learning for Justice at Latin: In Action (Part 2)

Learning for Justice at Latin: Standards (Part 1)

Learn more about Learning for Justice at Latin: Standards (Part 1)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Action at Latin

Student Support and Programming

Affinity groups and Identify Based Clubs
- Lower School
  - Black and African American Group
- Middle School
  - Gender and Sexuality Alliance
  - Girls in Math
  - South Asian Women's Alliance
  - Students of Color
- Upper School
  - Asian Student Alliance
  - Black Student Union
  - Chronic Illness and Disability Alliance
  - FUSION - (Multicultural Student Community)
  - Identity Coalition for Latin
  - Intersectional Feminine Alliance
  - Islamic Student Organization
  - Jewish Student Connection
  - Latin Alliance for Loss
  - Latin American Student Organization
  - LGBTQ+ affinity group
  - Multicultural Student Community
  - Neurodiversity Affinity Group
  - Young Women of Color
- Conferences
  - NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference
  - Young Men of Color
  - Young Women of Color
  - Close Up Foundation's Community Impact Symposium
- Collaboration with LIFE (Latin’s Initiative For Ethics)
- Lower School FLLOW (Future Latin Leaders of the World)
- MLK Day of Commemoration Workshops
- Upper School Student Diversity and Equity Committee

Curriculum

Parent/Guardian Engagement

Professional Development for Faculty, Staff and Administration

Faculty/staff affinity groups:
- LGBTQ+
- Faculty and Staff of Color
- White Anti-Racism Affinity Space
In-house opportunities
- Internal faculty/staff DEI professional development
ISACS conferences
NAIS People of Color Conference
NAIS Equity Design Lab
NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute
SEED
Wildwood Multicultural Leadership Institute
Facing History and Ourselves

How we define Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity At Latin School of Chicago, diversity is defined as the wide range of human characteristics and identities--both individual and group--that inform an individual’s lived experience. We believe that there is inherent value in the perspectives, ideas, and ways of being that are embodied in a diverse school community.

EquityAt Latin School of Chicago, equity aims to ensure that each individual has access to our resources and support according to their needs. We strive to empower community members on their paths to success. We acknowledge that paths to success will vary with each individual and we commit to creating opportunities for all members of the community to thrive. In short, equity aims to operationalize equality by differentiating support based on the needs of each unique individual.

Inclusion At Latin School of Chicago, inclusion is defined as actively creating and sustaining an environment of respect in which all members of the community feel accepted, affirmed, empowered and safe. We agree that creating such an environment is a shared responsibility of all community members.

Our DEI Institutional Goals

The following goals are the result of a process that included gathering input from students, faculty, staff, families, alumni, Latin’s DEI practitioners and senior leadership. Five recurring themes emerged across all constituencies allowing us to identify both long term goals and short term action items that will assist us in addressing our comprehensive challenges. This work is both urgent and important and requires full participation in order to deliver the inclusive experience we promise to every student and family.

Representation: Hire and retain more faculty and staff of color.

Action Steps:

Conduct implicit bias training for all people involved in the hiring process to mitigate unconscious bias (department chairs, staff directors, senior administration, faculty on hiring committees, etc.)
Review talent acquisition sources and cultivate new relationships to establish pipelines of faculty and staff of color
Evaluate current and create additional internal support structures to retain faculty and staff of color

Accountability: Create a culture of accountability for racist and discriminatory behavior.

Action Steps:

Develop an education program for all constituents focused on making Latin an equitable and inclusive place for all identities
Commit to introducing restorative justice practices at Latin
Provide intentional education and historical context on identity-related hurtful and hateful language, particularly regarding race/ethnicity and sexual orientation, per climate assessment data
Require all faculty and staff to participate in training around student sensitivity and boundaries
Implement bias incident reporting in all divisions including training of faculty/staff, students/families on protocol and proper usage
Evaluate, refine and make transparent policies and practices related to discriminatory behaviors for all constituents

Inclusion: Create strategy for improving feelings of inclusion for Black and Latino/Latinx students.

Professional Development/Education: Embed DEI work into Latin’s culture by committing resources to programming and education for all constituencies.

Action Steps:

Develop training and education aligned with DEI goals for volunteer leadership (Parent Association, Board of Trustees, Alumni Board, etc.)
Create training and education opportunities aligned with DEI goals for all parent/guardian community members
Provide intentional onboarding for new employees, parents/guardians, and students upon arrival to Latin
Administer ongoing DEI professional development for faculty, staff, and admin that is embedded into current job requirements and responsibilities

Curriculum: Examine and adjust curriculum to better reflect/represent/include underrepresented perspectives school wide across all disciplines.

Action Steps:

Develop a process for DEI coordinators and Academic Council to collaborate on curricular review and goal setting/scope and sequence
Evaluate curriculum through the lens of protecting and incorporating the perspectives and contributions of underrepresented identities
Provide professional development opportunities related to Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards that were adopted by the school in 2017

Our Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Chair: Eleannor Maajid, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Head of School - Thomas Hagerman
Assistant Head of School - Ryan Allen
Divisional Directors - Bliss Tobin (lower school), Tray White (middle school) and Nick Baer (upper school)
Divisional Diversity Coordinators - Kasey Taylor & Sheri Snopek (lower school), Kia London (middle school) and Kate Lorber-Crittenden (upper school)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Upper School Curriculum Coordinator - Brandon Woods
Board Member - Jenny Cizner
Director of Academic Initiatives - Ingrid Dorer Fitzpatrick
Director of Athletics
Director of Enrollment Management - Mark Copestake
Director of Human Resources- Susan Bolon
Faculty Council Representative
Parent Association DEI Liaison - Collin Espinales
Parent Association President - Daione Mitchell

Get in Touch and Learn More

Eleannor Maajid
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
emaajid@latinschool.org

A coeducational day school serving students JK-12

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We provide children with opportunities to see not only themselves, but also other people, cultures, perspectives and ideas.

Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Latin School of Chicago enable us to fulfill an important element of our strategic plan, which commits us to “...cultivate a more inclusive and supportive climate for all constituents.”

DEI News & Events

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Action at Latin

Student Support and Programming

Curriculum

Parent/Guardian Engagement

Professional Development for Faculty, Staff and Administration

How we define Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Our DEI Institutional Goals

Representation: Hire and retain more faculty and staff of color.

Accountability: Create a culture of accountability for racist and discriminatory behavior.

Inclusion: Create strategy for improving feelings of inclusion for Black and Latino/Latinx students.

Professional Development/Education: Embed DEI work into Latin’s culture by committing resources to programming and education for all constituencies.

Curriculum: Examine and adjust curriculum to better reflect/represent/include underrepresented perspectives school wide across all disciplines.

Our Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Get in Touch and Learn More