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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We are a community of belonging where students, staff, and families are dedicated to inclusion and respect for all.

Boarding students in Mercedes
Brian Davis

At San Domenico, we continuously strive to create an inclusive environment where every member of our community can fully embrace their identity without leaving any part of it at the door. We are committed to fostering a space where all aspects of diversity are celebrated, and where every individual feels a deep sense of belonging.

San Domenico’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is dedicated to organizing, planning, and creating intentional programming across all school levels, including through the Board of Trustees' Task Force. Our goal is to ensure that our mission and values are not just ideals, but actions woven into the very fabric of our School.

We recognize that achieving our vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion requires the commitment of every member of our community. At San Domenico, we embrace these efforts as both a practice and a praxis, continually seeking innovative ways to engage with and explore the rich global diversity that defines our school.

Welcome,

Dr. Brian Davis
Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion 

Connect with Us

Please contact us at dei@sandomenico.org with any questions, concerns, and/or ideas.

Feedback Form

What is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?

Diversity, equity, and inclusion work in independent schools seeks to help community members navigate differences and similarities so that everyone can realize their potential. The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) defines these terms as:

Unity Tree and students

San Domenico Social Vision Statement

In keeping with our mission and core values of study, reflection, community, and service, San Domenico is a community of belonging where students, staff, and families are dedicated to inclusion and respect for all. The school affirms the dignity of every student.

In Action

Langston Hughes books for National Poetry Month

SD Librarian Karlyn Strand shares reading suggestions for National Poetry Month, and invites Upper School students and families to join us for Poetry and Pizza Night.

LS Ramadan Assembly

Lower and Middle School students celebrate the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Books for Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, SD Librarian Karlyn Strand offers recommendations for readers of all ages to learn more about the American civil rights movement.

LS Students working on their Unity Tree art 2024

Kindness, inclusion, and acceptance are at the heart of our K-12 community activities this week.

Group of Upper School girls

Living our Mission

A core component of our mission is to respond to the needs of the times, and today more than ever before, that means recognizing our global interconnection. With both day and boarding students, our community comprises individuals from more than 20 countries. SD students and families represent a wide spectrum of cultures, identities, and backgrounds, all of whom make our community stronger, smarter, wiser, and better able to fulfill our vision of graduating students who go forth to shape a better world.

All School Opening Reflection

Asking the Hard Questions

At SD, we encourage and develop the art of respectful inquiry and this permeates all areas of our program. We have the hard conversations and with a global student body, we hear many different perspectives. We may not be able to do or be everything we want yet, but we continue to work toward the just and peaceful world that we envision.

Our faculty and staff seek out opportunities and channels to increase community awareness of, and support for, diversity and respect among all beings.

MLK Day of Service

Systems Thinking

We recognize that as a system, we are stronger than any one individual. Our Admissions team works to create a more diverse student and parent body, who then enrich one another's lives by sharing their backgrounds and cultures. Our ethics, philosophy, world religions, and service learning curriculum encourage an understanding of our global interconnectedness. Students bring their ideas and questions to the campus, the classroom, and the School's leadership. Together we strive for peace, sustainability, and equity.

Indexed Tuition

We are committed to making an exceptional education accessible to families from diverse economic backgrounds. Through Indexed Tuition, we tailor tuition to each family's unique financial situation, ensuring that more students can join our vibrant and inclusive community. While we acknowledge that not all financial challenges can be fully covered, our goal is to provide meaningful support, fostering a school environment rooted in diversity, equity, and long-term sustainability. By taking this approach, we strive to cultivate a welcoming community where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Professional Development

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is dedicated to building, sustaining, and retaining a safe, loving, and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, staff, families and alumni, and all members in the San Domenico community. At San Domenico, we provide opportunities for Professional Development on campus through our division levels and we send faculty and staff to national-wide and statewide conferences for best practices, resources, and support the practice of continued learning.

Being in an Affinity Group

“I am a part of the Asian Student Association, where we celebrate and share our diverse cultures and traditions. I love that our group provides a safe space to connect with others who share similar backgrounds and experiences, and my favorite part is the way we uplift each other and work together on meaningful projects that represent our voices such as celebrations at our festivals. Being in this group makes me feel seen and understood, creating a sense of belonging that extends beyond just our meetings.”

“Something I enjoy about QSU is that it is a very loving community. Everyone is supportive of each other, making QSU both a fun club and a safe space to be vulnerable. Being a part of QSU makes me feel seen as a part of the LGBTQ community. It proves that nobody has to stand alone.”

“My favorite aspect of the Multicultural club is the ability to be open and accepting to many cultures building communities and friendship. This group helps me get involved in the community and helps plan out schools events for everyone to enjoy.”

“I'm a part of the Asian Student Association (ASA). My favorite aspect of being in this affinity group is to see how collaborative and unitive this group can be. Being supported by my members will always be an invaluable experience in my life. Being within this affinity group, the responsibility held by all of us when addressing a challenge keeps reminding me of the significance of teamwork. I believe that the connection built among all of us defines collaboration, community, and family.”

“My favorite thing about BSU is our weekly meetings where we share different aspects of our culture and celebrate our identities. We often plan events making the meetings productive as well. I feel a lot happier knowing that there are other people in this school who share the same cultural experiences as me growing up. It also deepens my understanding of other global cultures so that I can stay open minded.”

BSU at the Multicultural Palooza

Affinity Groups

SD supports student-led affinity groups for students with a shared identity to gather in community. Current affinity groups at San Domenico include:

  • Black Student Union
  • Asian Student Association
  • Queer Student Union
  • Latino League Affinity Group
  • Jewish Student Union
  • Multicultural Affinity Group 

 

Collaboration & Partnership

Organizations we partner with in Equity work include:

CSEE logo
POCIS logo

A Better Chance
Breakthrough Summerbridge
Next Generation Scholars

Resources

Below are just some of the many books, articles, podcasts, and organizations our community has found to be of help in striving for a more racially and socially just world. Please contact us with additional suggestions.