Diversity Programs in Jesuit Schools Alecia Thomas Director of Diversity & Academic Support Services Fairfield College Preparatory School

Small Group Discussion 1. What language do you speak? 2. What is your religion? 3. What holidays do you celebrate? 4. What is your racial identification? 5. What is your ethnic identity? 6. What is your culture?

Change is Coming “At the same time our population is going gray, we’re also becoming multi-colored. In 1960, the population of the United States was 85% white; by 2060, it will be only 43% white. We were once a black and white country. Now, we’re a rainbow” (Pew Research Center).

Race vs. Ethnicity Race is defined as A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics. American Census (Race vs. Ethnicity) Black (African-American, Haitian, Jamaican, Nigerian etc…) White (Italian, German, Irish etc…) Hispanic (Columbian, Dominican, Puerto Rican etc..) Asian (Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese etc…) Native-American Pacific- Islander (Hawaiian

Racial Demographic Shift in Schools Large growth in Latino population Decline in White population Steady rise in African-American and Asian population “The United States must vastly improve the educational outcomes for this new and diverse majority of American students, whose success is inextricably linked to the well-being of the nation” (Leslie Maxwell).

What is Diversity? It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual. The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. The primary dimensions of diversity are race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, and religious beliefs. The secondary dimensions of diversity include political beliefs, or other ideologies, geographic location, abilities, personality types, learning styles It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment.

What is Cultural Diversity “A system of beliefs and behaviors that recognizes and respects the presence of all diverse groups in an organization or society, acknowledges and values their socio-cultural differences, and encourages and enables their continued contribution within an inclusive cultural context which empowers all within the organization or society” (C. Rosado)

Being Culturally Diverse Recognition of the abundant diversity of cultures; respect for the differences; Acknowledging the validity of different cultural expressions and contributions; Valuing what other cultures offer; Encouraging the contribution of diverse groups; Empowering people to strengthen themselves and others to achieve their maximum potential by being critical of their own biases; and Celebrating rather than just tolerating the differences in order to bring about unity through diversity.

Change in Language Pew Center Research- 34 percent of U.S. children younger than 17 will either be immigrants themselves or the children of at least one parent who is an immigrant Will need an English-language acquisition service

The Institutional Dimensions of Diversity “The Educational is the institution that provides the physical and political structure for schools. To make the institution more culturally responsive, reforms must be made in at least 3 specific areas (Little, 1999). 1.Administration and its response to diversity 2.School policies and procedures 3.Community involvement

Embracing the Change Five Phases Phase I- Embracing the change acknowledge this challenge in a positive, inclusive, and honest way Phase II- Engaging personal culture building educators' cultural competence—their ability to form authentic and effective relationships across differences Phase III- Confronting Social Dominance and Social Justice educators directly confront the current and historical inequities that affect education

Phase IV- Transforming Instructional Practices schools assess and, where necessary, transform the way they carry out instruction to become more responsive to diversity Phase V- Engaging the Entire School Community school leaders must engage the entire school community

SEED Program- Fairfield Prep Institutionalizing Diversity Definition of SEED S.E.E.D. stands for Students for Educational Excellence through Diversity. S.E.E.D. is a school-wide, multi-racial/cultural, multi-class, and multi-religious organization open to everyone in the Prep student body. The main function of S.E.E.D. is to foster diversity through cultural, racial, and social interaction through various support services.

SEED Recruitment Dean of Enrollment and Marketing -High School Visit -Open House -Admissions/ Financial Aid Application -Home- Gatherings Business Office -Enrollment Deposit -Tuition Payment Retention Guidance Department -Work closely with Guidance Counselors -Parent-Teacher-Student Staffing Campus Ministry -Mission Trips -Kairos SEED Office -SEED Summer Enrichment Camp -SEED Scholars -Brother for Others- NHS -Fairfield University Interns -Interface with Guidance Department -Faculty Committee on Diversity- FCOD

Small Group Discussion How do we respond to this change?

References 1.C. Rosado, What Makes a School Multicultural? 2. Howard, G. R. (n.d.). As Diversity Grows, So Must We. Retrieved from leadership/mar07/vol64/num06/As-Diversity-Grows,-So-Must- We.aspx 3.Richards, H. V., Brown, A. F., & Forde, T. B. (2007). Addressing Diversity in Schools: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 39(3), doi: /