Incarnate Word Academy
D.E.I Digest November 2021 Meet Miss Sunnie! Hello everyone! My name is Sunnie E. Hughes. After serving for over a decade in higher education, I am happy to join IWA as the new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I). As a graduate of the IWA Class of 1997, I am pleased for the opportunity to help young women develop understanding, empathy, and advocacy for one another.
Regardless of your celebration this month, I wish all of our students, staff, and their families a happy holiday season as we rejoice in God’s many blessings in our lives.
Sunnie E. Hughes Class Of 1997
D.E.I Quote To Ponder
Non Profit Organizations Every year, Incarnate Word Academy supports local non-profit social service organizations in our annual Christmas Drive. Click each agency below to learn more about their mission. Freshman: Youth in Need Click here to learn about the organization. Click here for the Amazon wishlist.
Sophomore: Crisis Nursery Click here to learn about the organization. Click here for the Amazon wishlist.
Junior: Women’s Care Connect Click here to learn about the organization. Click here for the Amazon wishlist.
Senior: Whole Kids Outreach Click here to learn about the organization. Click here for the Amazon wishlist. Click here for the WalMart wishlist.
“We know that diversity can sometimes be more uncomfortable because things are less familiar – but it gets the best results.” ~ Megan Smith – an American engineer and technologist.
Book Of The Month!
Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan
D.E.I Words Of The Month Inclusion: the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure.
Equity: the quality of being fair and impartial.
Perception: the ability to see, hear or become aware of something through the senses.
Cultural Celebrations! Christmas - December 25th Kwanzaa - December 26th -January 1st Hanukkah - November 28th - December 6th Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 12th Saint Nicholas Day - December 6th St. Lucia Day - December 13th Omisoka - December 31st
A Christmas Message From Your Campus Ministry Team As Women of the WORD and members of the Incarnate Word community, Christmas is a special reminder that God's great love for the entire human family led him to send his only Son, Jesus, to become one of us. As we say in our Mission Statement, we try to follow the example of Jesus by promoting human dignity, thereby empowering ourselves and others to make a positive impact on our world. So let us do this by bringing LIGHT to others!
(Sr. Eileen O’Keeffe, CCVI, Director of Mission Integration) I truly believe that our many celebrations this time of year all point us towards God, even those holidays or practices that are not explicitly Christian. At the Second Vatican Council, the Pope wrote that “the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in [non-Christian] religions” and that these faiths “often reflect that ray of truth which enlightens all people” (Nostra Aetate). And so I think it is important this time of year to appreciate the goodness of celebrations other than Christmas.
Our Jewish brothers and sisters finished up their celebration of Hanukkah last week, which recognizes that God always provides even when it appears all is lost. Additionally, the celebration of Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 - Jan. 1) honors African-American culture and contributions in the United States. No matter how one chooses to celebrate the holidays, togetherness is often at the heart of all these gatherings- and this togetherness gives us a glimpse of Heaven. May we slow down and recognize that this togetherness flows from and points us to God
(Michael Schonhoff, Director of Campus Ministry)
If you’re interested in contributing to the DEI Digest, please contact Sunnie E. Hughes, Director at shughes@iwacademy.org for more information.