Why is DEI / EJB Work Important?

We believe that creating a culture of belonging is a shared responsibility. Our mission statement at The White Mountain School—rooted in courage, compassion, and curiosity—guides our work toward becoming an equitable, just, and inclusive institution.

  • We need curiosity to learn about worldviews other than our own, so that we are compelled to look outside our own lived experiences.
  • We need courage to reflect critically upon those lived experiences, to acknowledge that our truth is not the only truth, to be courageous enough to speak a new truth.
  • We need compassion because, without it, our curiosity and courage fail; compassion fuels empathy, which we need in this movement for justice.

Similarly, our Episcopal heritage calls for our community to:

“Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”

–Book of Common Prayer, 2006, p.294.

We believe every community member must learn about systems of oppression; it is not the work of only one person or club. We intentionally embed justice into the fabric of our community. It lives in the academic mission and vision, in the values and voices of the student leaders, and in the expectations of faculty and staff to be gender-inclusive, culturally competent, and anti-racist educators. As a student, you can expect to engage in powerful and challenging conversations about identity, equity, justice, and belonging.

DEI / EJB Programming and Leadership Opportunities

Affinity Groups and Spaces

An Affinity Group is a group of students and faculty linked by a common purpose, ideology, or interest. Affinity Groups play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed at White Mountain. Affinity Groups can provide a collective voice for students with common interests. The Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee dedicated the 2018-2019 school year to educating the community about the importance of Affinity Groups and surveyed our community for Affinity Groups they felt White Mountain needed.

Clubs, Co-Curriculars, and Conference Opportunities

Are you passionate about activism and social justice? While each community member will be expected to engage with identity, equity, and justice, White Mountain offers students with a particular passion for activism and social justice the opportunity to elevate their voice, knowledge, and leadership skills. Opportunities range from co-curricular options to leadership positions, clubs and workshops, and off-campus conferences. More information can be found here.

Equity and Inclusion Student Delegates

Equity and Inclusion Student Delegates are students in grades 10-12 who ensure student voices will be represented in the School’s EJB efforts. Delegates foster an equitable and inclusive environment at White Mountain: they celebrate, honor, and respect the diversity of our community, and they stand up to injustices when they occur in support of all members of our community.

Any student who has demonstrated a clear commitment to EJB-related work at and beyond the School who is looking to both use and develop their leadership skills with the mentorship of the director of equity and inclusion and/or the assistant head of school for community, equity, and belonging should consider applying. Delegates will receive preference for the annual NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC); however, their selection cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, only students in grades 10 and 11 are generally eligible for attending SDLC.

  • Meet with the assistant head of school for community, equity, and belonging on a weekly basis (or more, when needed) to discuss community needs and culture.
  • Work with the assistant head of school for community, equity, and belonging to plan school-wide events.
  • Attend, and sometimes lead, Social Justice Warriors meetings.
  • When appropriate, work with Student Council on matters related to equity, justice, and belonging.
  • When appropriate, work with White Mountain administrators on matters related to equity, justice, and belonging.

The White Mountain Scholars Program

Established in 2019, this program offers an empowering, engaging, and affirming environment and programming for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) identifying students from low-income backgrounds in the United States, starting in grades 9 and 10, so that they may unlock their unique and compelling potential and fully access the vision and promise of an education at White Mountain rooted in curiosity, courage, and compassion.

Accessibility Statement