DEIJB

 

Stemming from the core Quaker tenet of the sacred worth of each individual, Friends schools have long honored diversity across many dimensions of personal identity, including gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, family structure, religion, national and ethnic origin, physical and intellectual ability, and more. Recently, however, we have come to recognize that our nation’s history with regard to Black and Indigenous peoples warrants focused attention in these times. We have much work to do and many truths to face. In order to redress historical wrongs that span centuries, including within our Friends schools, going forward we are called to redefine our schools as explicitly anti-racist in their policies and practices. 

 

Here at Friends School of Wilmington, we seek a community that reflects a wide range of religious traditions, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and a range of family structures. Our philosophy encourages students to understand, respect, and actively learn from differences in order to become compassionate global citizens. To further this work, we established a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging (DEIJB) Council. This group includes members from all constituent groups within the school community who critically reflect upon our school’s culture, curriculum, policies, and practices through the lens of the Friends Council on Education’s Principles of Good Practice for Quaker Schools. Together, we collectively identify and address whatever elements of systemic racism and bias exist within our midst, challenging us to look within ourselves as well as take stock of our individual roles in repairing our world and creating a community of belonging at FSW.