DIVERSITY PROGRAM

Diversity

Program

By: Tommy de Quesada ‘94

The Diversity Program at Belen Jesuit focuses on providing support services for students from diverse socio-economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. The overarching goal is to maximize the academic potential of each student. As Belen Jesuit seeks to foster compassion and a commitment to justice, seeking a more diverse community will help form young men who are equipped to thrive in an increasingly global world.

Qualifying families will benefit from a range of social, academic, and financial support as Belen Jesuit continues to offer a transformative educational experience that is focused on educating the whole person.

Applicants to the program are required to engage in the annual Belen Jesuit admissions and financial assistance application processes, and the sixth and ninth grades will be the primary entry points.

The following were accomplished during the 2021-2022 Academic Year:

Six new students were admitted into the program for the 2022 - 2023 academic year. h The Admissions team visited parochial schools in underserved areas which had not been visited previously. The schools included St. Mary’s Cathedral School, St. Rose of Lima, and St. Jerome.

As a follow-up to the school visit, students from St. Mary’s Cathedral (boys and girls) were invited to a first-of-its-kind visit to Belen, where a tour was given to the boys, and the girls were offered a STEAM experience in the Roberto C. Goizueta Innovation Center.

The Admissions team also visited CARE Elementary and hosted their 4th Graders (boys and girls) on campus. The Admissions team hosted and met with the leadership team from Breakthrough Miami to strengthen the relationship between the school and the organization.

To show our financial commitment to the program, two positions at the school were given stipends as we worked to strengthen the social and academic support in place for our students in the Diversity Program.

The financial assistance model was reimagined in order to allow for more student funding and to achieve program sustainability.

Initial efforts were made in the area of faculty recruitment of diverse candidates and we will strive to better represent other sectors of the Miami community for potential employment.