CONNECTING ON COMMON GROUND This year, we began planning to launch affinity groups at Mark Day School. We are excited to offer these spaces to students in 5th through 8th grade to promote healthy awareness, acceptance, and understanding of identity. What is an Affinity Group? Affinity groups are safe spaces where people can come together with a common identity to talk about their experiences and concerns and discuss issues that are specific to that identity. According to Rosetta Lee, a widely
Affinity groups allow for an exploration of one’s own identity, celebration of shared identity, and debriefing of the common challenges and experiences that members of the identity group face. recognized expert on diversity, inclusion, and equity, “Affinity groups allow for an exploration of one’s own identity, celebration of shared identity, and debriefing of the common challenges and experiences that members of the identity group face.” These groups are different
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from alliance groups, which are support based, and interest groups, which are activity or passion based. A Foundation of Research and Planning During the 2017-18 school year, a subcommittee was formed under the Diversity & Inclusivity Committee to research the idea of bringing affinity groups to Mark Day School. “We know that having affinity spaces for students is best practice,” says Fernanda Pernambuco, Director of Cross-Cultural Partnerships and Community Engagement. “Affinity spaces are good for community building, social dynamics, and academics. We also know that especially for students in marginalized groups, being able to get together and have positive identity development is crucial. And so it was time to start researching and create a vision for how this could look at Mark Day.” The subcommittee spent two years researching information from a variety of resources, notably the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Rosetta Lee, and other independent schools that have
