Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Purpose statement
Louisville Collegiate School’s mission is to inspire academic excellence, extraordinary character, and global citizenship. Central to our mission is our commitment to creating an inclusive community that nourishes students and families from all backgrounds and perspectives.
As such, we seek:
- To enrich our students’ academic excellence by cultivating pedagogy, programming, and instructional resources that empower each of our students to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
- To enhance our students’ extraordinary character by nurturing and fostering skills and practices at every age that contribute toward a community where each member feels a sense of belonging and engagement.
- To develop students’ global citizenship by considering multiple perspectives and increasing a sense of responsibility to live, work, and engage respectfully with a diversity of people in an interconnected world.
As we teach, learn from, and celebrate the many differences that make up our school, we work together to uphold the pillars that embody the mission of the Louisville Collegiate School community. We expect our students and families to demonstrate integrity and respect for all individuals and to act in the best interests of others and the community as a whole by demonstrating honor, compassion, responsibility, and respect.
WORK IN ACTION
This year, the school is working to create a framework of Core Competencies, including one competency focused on Intercultural Engagement. This work will continue in the fall, and we look forward to sharing more information soon!
Black History Month
This website was created this year by Collegiate student Max LeDoux ’24, to highlight the lives and contributions of Black Americans in American History. The first four Black Americans featured on the website were presented by the Black Student Union for the Black History Month Upper School morning meeting. These four little-known Black Americans prioritized service in the Black community during their lives.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The urgency with which Dr. King questioned the commitment of service to others in his speech delivered in Montgomery, Alabama in 1957 continues to be an urgent calling for all Americans today. The idea of doing for others and supporting one’s community is essential to Dr. King’s dream of a “Beloved Community,” as well as the purpose of the Day of Service. The day’s purpose is simple: to inspire all Americans to actively seek opportunities to volunteer that directly impact and improve the collective community. The MLK Day of Service has grown as more Americans use “the day as a day on instead of a day off.” During the past 25 years, the MLK Day of Service has brought millions of people together who honor Dr. King’s life’s work. Dr. King’s dream of the “Beloved Community,” his fight against systemic racism, and his fight for racial justice are all why Dr. King’s legacy is still relevant today.
On Monday, January 16, AmeriCorps invites you to:
“Engage with your community and create constructive action.”
“Act on Dr. King’s legacy of social justice and equity.”
“Recommit by volunteering to serve others. You can clean up a public space, mentor a young person, or help those who are food insecure.”
For many Americans, the call to serve others does not happen only one day a year. Many individuals and families honor Dr. King through acts of service in our city and our school community throughout the year. On Tuesday, January 10, Upper School leaders from the Black Student Union (BSU), Human Rights Club, and the Me to We Club volunteered at Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana in honor of the National Day of Service.
Last year, the BSU dedicated time in January and February to highlight the importance of service historically and currently within the Black community. A spark was ignited for many of the BSU members last year. This year, leaders from the BSU encouraged affinity leaders from the Human Rights and Me to We Clubs to join them in celebrating Dr. King’s dream through service. Ten Upper School students who volunteered an hour on Tuesday made a direct impact in the local community by helping Gilda’s staff who, in turn, will help many families living with and recovering from cancer.
This year, I will continue to use the MLK Day of Service to pay it forward by mentoring and supporting young female leaders. Last year, I used the day of service to work virtually with local seniors preparing for college. This year, I will work with college seniors from my alma mater, Fisk University, in Nashville, TN.
Once again, I ask the LCS community to view the MLK Day of Service as an opportunity to serve and give back to others. No matter what you decide to do on January 16, please look for ways to use Dr. King’s Day of Service to improve the collective community within our city!
Student Affinity Groups
The Equality Coalition: The Equality Coalition is made up of three groups: the Black Student Union (BSU), Collegiate Feminist Club (CFC), and the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA). These student-led, teacher-facilitated affinity groups are leading conversations through morning meetings and grade-level-specific discussions about a range of topics.
Why Affinity Groups Matters: Collegiate is committed to creating student-centered affinity groups. The role of student-centered affinity groups is to provide safe spaces for students with a shared identity to speak, share, and to grow with one another from the sharing of personal, firsthand experiences shaped by a particular identity lens. These groups are sponsored by Collegiate faculty and staff. Their role is to facilitate these student groups in setting goals for the year, creating agendas for meetings, organizing events, and celebrations. The sponsor also takes on the role of a teacher leader for their groups in partnership with the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Head of the Upper School, and Head of the Middle School.
Student Affinity Group Work at LCS
Once again this year, our student affinity groups led activities highlighting and celebrating cultural heritage months in the Upper School.
The GSA has had Pride Week celebrations annually since 2014. This year’s Pride Day meeting included speakers from the Fairness Campaign, ACLU, and a panel of Upper School students and teachers. Our Pride celebration highlighted students and teachers who identify as LGBTQ+ and a message of “You Are Not Alone!” Nearly 100 faculty and staff had a picture taken holding a sign with our theme! The GSA has seen increased student involvement and now has an off-shoot club, the GSA-S, a social group for students who identify as LGBTQ+.
The BSU focused on acts of service highlighting Black Americans who used their financial successes to give back to the Black community, especially activists who have given back to support historically black universities and colleges. The BSU created a webpage to honor local and national black business people throughout February. During February, BSU students volunteered at Gilda’s. They also donated bake sale proceeds to Gilda’s to support three art projects for twenty of Gilda’s members.
The Feminist Club’s presentation, during Women’s History Month, included a panel of students and faculty who highlighted the importance of gender equality for a sustainable future. Panel members shared personal stories of influential women in their lives. The panel also celebrated this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Break the Bias.”
Meet the DEI Team
