Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
91st Street stands with the Black Community
Ninety-first Street stands with the Black community against racial violence and injustice. We commit to doing the daily work of building a community that is anti-racist, fair, and inclusive of all. We invite you to stay engaged and welcome your input. Watch this space to see our commitment in action.
- Racial Justice Reading Guide
91st Street's Librarians and Awareness Council have created a reading list to support conversation, education, and antiracist activism. They are organized by age groups ranging from pre-K through adult. We encourage you to explore these books with us this summer. We will continue to expand our list of recommended resources. Click here to view.
- Silence is Not an Option: A Prayer Service for Racial Justice
Yesterday’s service, Silence is not an Option, mourned the Black lives lost to racial violence and charged our community to acknowledge white privilege, show up as an ally, and act for racial justice. View a recording of the service here.
- Statement from the Society of the Sacred Heart
The RSCJ and leadership of the Society of the Sacred Heart shared the following statement about racism with all Sacred Heart schools, pledging to fight the sin of racial discrimination. Link: https://www.rscj.org/news/statement-racism-may-29-2020
- Resources
Our Sacred Heart Network has identified several resources to support speaking about racism with our children. We are happy to offer some of them here.- Exceptional research and insight can be found in Jennifer Eberhardt's book, Biased
- Teaching Tolerance has many resources. US vs. Hate is one that you might adopt as a summer challenge
- An incredible resource for adults by author and teacher Layla F. Saad
- A guide for parents to talk with their child(ren) about racism
- Actions white adults and older students can take now to support anti-racism
- An incredibly accessible book on how to talk about race by writer and speaker Ijeoma Oluo
- Helping Kids Process Violence, Trauma, and Race in a World of Nonstop News from Common Sense Media
- Common Sense Media maintains a media resource page for parents and educators to start conversations with kids about race.
Sacred Heart educates to a critical social awareness that compels our community to reflect and act in the interest of dignity, equity, and justice. Our community values differences that include, but are not limited to, ability, age, belief, ethnicity, family structure, gender, learning style, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
Students
Across school curricula and activities, students explore identity and diversity, learn how to think critically and compassionately about complex social and historical issues, and learn how to act for justice and change.
Faculty & Staff
Our faculty and staff enact our foundress's vision through extensive curricular and co-curricular offerings for students and engaging in ongoing professional learning to increase cultural proficiency and curricular innovation.
Parents and Alumnae
Parents and alumnae are invited to engage and grow by joining affinity and interest groups, attending discussions and events both on and off campus, serving on committees, and mentoring others within our community.
Administration & Trustees
School leaders empower a community that educates to inclusivity, compassion, cultural humility, a critical social awareness, and the courage to build a just society.
St. Madeleine Sophie's Vision
Our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, called Sacred Heart educators and students to model the attitudes of the heart of Jesus expressed in respect, compassion, justice, and inclusivity. We believe all people are created in the image of God, are loved by God, and are meant to work together to bring love into the world.
2019-2020 Action Areas
- Providing anti-bias education for students, faculty, staff, parents, alumnae, and trustees
- Auditing the curriculum to promote equity literacy
- Developing internal resources that empower students, faculty/staff, parents, alumnae, and trustees to initiate personal learning plans
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Affinity Spaces and Interest Groups
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council
Goal III of Sacred Heart's educational mission calls us to cultivate "a social awareness which impels to action." The Awareness Council is a diversity, equity & inclusion team comprised of faculty and staff from across the school community, supported by Michaela Ablon, Director of Accreditation and Strategic Planning. Guided by the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education, the Council collaborates with colleagues, students, parents, and alumnae to provide programs that foster an inclusive community committed to equity and justice.
If you have a question about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Sacred Heart, please email awareness@cshnyc.org.
Members of the Awareness Council are:
Rebecca Collins-Jordan, Upper School Religion Teacher
Lisa Dettling, Director of Library and Media Studies
Mansi Khanna, Middle School Mathematics Teacher
Libby Molina, Co-Chair of Awareness Council, Middle School Librarian
Anastazia Neely, Co-Chair of Awareness Council, Lower School Science Teacher
Roberta Osorio, Middle School Academic Dean
Marielena Quintanilla, Lower School Learning Specialist
Jaclyn Talley, Lower School Artist in Residence