Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—A Year in Review

Reflections from Dr. Chandani Patel, Inaugural Director of Equity and Inclusion

Thank you for welcoming me into this school community. It is always hard to know exactly what you will find in any new place, let alone when your entire interview process is conducted through Zoom. I knew even from those early conversations, though, that the Rowland Hall community leads from a deep commitment to wanting the best for all of its students and each other. My time here over the last year has proven this commitment to be true.

I spent much of my first months asking questions to get to know the community better. There was a lot to learn about the foundational work so many folks in the community have led over the last decade to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). My goal was to better understand what has worked, where there are opportunities, what questions areat the forefront of community members’ minds, and what has not gone well. Needless to say, it was a lot to take in, but only because so much groundwork had taken place.

I have led programs, conversations, and initiatives centered on DEI for more than a decade. This work is never easy, but it is made easier when there is a shared sense of responsibility to carry it forward. What I have found at Rowland Hall is that, as evidenced in this reflection on the year, there are many individuals who have been shouldering this work and many more who are eager to contribute to it, from students and faculty to parents/caregivers and trustees.

I am energized by our new strategic priorities, which guide us to build on our efforts to cultivate a community where each member thrives. Change is inevitable, and never more so than in this moment in history. To equip our students with the tools they need to successfully navigate an increasingly interconnected and uncertain present and future, we must support them in collaborating with each other, learning from and embracing their differences, navigating conflict, and leading with equity and compassion so they can participate in identifying solutions to some of our world’s biggest challenges.

Thank you for sharing our commitment.

Dr. Chandani Patel, Director of Equity and Inclusion

A Look Back at 2021–2022

My first year on campus was filled with community connections; learning about Rowland Hall’s culture and foundational work around equity and inclusion; collaborations to advance initiatives, programs, and structures that support DEI; and building more cohesion around this work.

I began by asking community members what best supports their feelings of belonging. Students named friendships and teachers who know and support them as individuals; many middle and upper school students also remarked that affinity spaces, which bring together people who share a common identifier or life experiences, helped promote belonging. When asked the same question, parents and caregivers named communitybuilding programs, the increasingly diverse representation of voices and perspectives in the curriculum, and opportunities to learn about equity and inclusion. Overall, community members identified the need for stronger channels of communication, more opportunities to connect with one another (especially after COVID), and more representation of people of color.

I want to thank the students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and parents/ caregivers who have contributed to this work this year. I look forward to working with many more of you in the years to come.

2021–2022 Rowland Hall DEI Committee and Affinity Group Accomplishments

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee: This faculty/staff committee focused on four areas this year: community education, cost/financial aid, curriculum, and affinity groups for beginning and lower school families. They developed community resources and a community calendar, began identifying the true cost of attending Rowland Hall, collated and analyzed curriculum snapshots to understand DEI touchpoints and connections, and held two first-time affinity group events for beginning and lower school families.

Student JEDI leaders: These Upper School students generated case studies for faculty workshops and designed “Interwoven: Building Connections between Affinity Groups in the Upper and Middle Schools.”

Affinity groups: Middle and upper school affinity groups (see sidebar) built relationships and engaged in shared learning. A faculty and staff BIPOC affinity group, for those who identify as Black, Indigeneous, and other People of Color, shared stories and built community. The White Antiracist Educators group discussed equity and inclusion texts, and ways to activate allyship.

Inclusion, Outreach, and Equity (IEO) Committee: This board committee worked to identify and support strategic alignment to advance DEI across the school community. The committee engages in ongoing learning and discussion, and assists in ensuring a healthy school culture and climate.

New Faculty Support for 2022–2023

In 2022–2023, divisional equity coordinators will collaborate with and provide support to faculty to advance equity and inclusion, and will work closely with Dr. Patel and principals to identify key needs and resources. We will also host a Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity seminar, where participants will consider how they can create more equitable classrooms, communities, and workplaces for all.

2021–2022 DEI HIGHLIGHTS

Below are a few of our many accomplishments this year, made possible by strong collaborations among students, faculty and staff, and leadership.

July 2021

Dr. Chandani Patel, Rowland Hall’s first director of equity and inclusion, joined the community.

August–December 2021

Dr. Patel connected with colleagues, students, parents/caregivers, board members, alumni, and other community members to learn about Rowland Hall’s culture, especially the foundational work around equity and inclusion.

January 2022

Beloved Community in Action: This three-day celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. featured events for all community members and encouraged taking action in solidarity with communities of color. (Special thanks to Sofia Gorder and Ryan Hoglund for their collaboration.)

Parent/caregiver listening sessions: Three listening sessions allowed parents and caregivers to share reflections on what contributes to their feelings of belonging, as well as what Rowland Hall can do to better foster belonging for the parent/ caregiver community.

February 2022

Gender forum: Hosted in collaboration with the Home & School Association, this event featured Dr. Kathryn Bond Stockton, distinguished professor at the University of Utah, and a panel of nine middle and upper school students, and discussed gender identity and gender-expansive students’ lived experiences.

Gender-inclusive policies: Dr. Patel and divisional principals identified gender-inclusive policies in place, including system changes for names and pronouns, overnight trips and rooming arrangements, and bathroom and locker room use, and added them to the student-parent handbook for reference.

April 2022

Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) survey: Rowland Hall participated in the National Association of Independent Schools AIM survey. Initial data indicates that while Rowland Hall as a whole is friendly and welcoming, there is work to be done to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion so all community members can be themselves, succeed, and thrive. The AIM survey will continue to shape ongoing work, with more data to be shared with the community in the 2022–2023 school year, once it has been thoroughly analyzed.

Community forum on equity and inclusion: This forum provided an overview of where Rowland Hall is in terms of culture and belonging, where we are headed, and how we can get there. Dr. Patel shared her learning in her inaugural role, including information gathered from community members about their experiences and feelings of belonging, while faculty and students who are engaged in efforts to promote equity and inclusion shared updates about their work.

May 2022

Beginning and lower school affinity groups for families: Building on Rowland Hall’s commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive community, the JEDI Committee hosted two beginning and lower school affinity group events for families of color and LGBTQ+ families. These events offer ongoing conversations with families and complement student-led affinity groups.

June 2022

Pride parade: More than 130 Rowland Hall community members marched in the Utah Pride Parade, the largest number since the school began participating in 2012. The gathering was led by two student groups: the Upper School’s Queer Straight Alliance and the Middle School’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance.

Juneteenth: Rowland Hall officially recognized Juneteenth, first celebrated on June 19, 1865, as a holiday. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, many enslavers continued to hold Black people captive after the announcement, so Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African American freedom.

ROWLAND HALL STUDENT AFFINITY GROUPS

Seven affinity groups, spaces that bring together people with common identifiers or life experiences, supported middle and upper schoolers this year.

Queer Straight Alliance, Upper School Asian Affinity Group, Upper School Muslim Affinity Group, Upper School* Latine Affinity Group, Upper School Jewish Affinity Group, Upper School Girls of Color, Middle School and Upper School* Sexuality and Gender Alliance, Middle School

*New in 2021–2022

Affinity groups are requested by students and student-led. Those interested in forming affinity groups should speak to their principal or Dr. Patel about how to start a group.