5/12 Audit Updates: Steering Committee &(families)

Dear GDS Families,

We hope you are well as we settle into the last few weeks of school. We write to share a few updates since our last communication announcing the School’s diversity, equity, and inclusion audit. Many of you completed the survey, and we are incredibly grateful for your partnership and support as we seek to assess perceptions of individual experiences and community climate while working to identify the ways in which GDS institutionally designs for and demonstrates diversity, equity, and inclusion. Below you will find information regarding the selection of our steering committee and important dates for those interested in participating in affinity-based focus groups.

After careful consideration, we have identified the steering committee for the audit process. As a reminder, the steering committee is an organizationally and socially diverse working group that serves three functions:

Advisory: making high-level decisions for the audit (e.g., setting the vital DEI priorities),
Educational: learning about DEI auditing, and
Leadership: owning the audit internally, supporting the pilot process, and leading the subsequent integration of DEI auditing across the institution.

Members of the committee have been meeting in this capacity since late April in preparation for making high-level recommendations based on audit findings. We are happy to announce the adults in our community as steering committee members. (See sidebar.)

As we continue to move forward with the audit process, we would like to extend an invitation for various constituents within our community to participate in focus group meetings. Focus group members will serve to provide valuable insights related to perceptions of their own GDS experiences and community climate. Given our School’s stated commitments to anti-racism at the beginning of the year, focus groups will be held as affinity spaces on the basis of ethno-racial identity. Each focus group will consist of 8–10 individuals who represent a diverse range of GDS experiences and voices (e.g., length of time at GDS, parent/guardian role, student considerations). While the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will assist with the coordination of focus groups, it is important to note that focus groups will be facilitated by our consultant, Alison Park. Names of participants will not be publicized and feedback will remain anonymous.

If you are interested in participating in an affinity-based focus group, please review the dates below and fill out this Google form.

Family Focus Groups

May 17, 6:00–7:00 PM
Black; African Heritage; African American; Afro-Caribbean

June 1, 3:30–4:30 PM
Latino/a/x; Hispanic

June 1, 4:45–5:45 PM

East Asian, Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, Asian American

Please note: By filling out the form, you are confirming your availability for the focus group(s) which you selected. Given our need to create a space for small intimate conversations with 8–10 individuals, it is likely that not all who express interest will be able to participate. We ask that you indicate your interest no later than Saturday, May 15 at noon. At that time, we will provide next steps including a Zoom link and instructions.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out directly.

With gratitude,

Marlo Thomas
Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Family Focus Groups

HIGHLIGHTS

Steering Committee Members