Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
2020-21 in Review
A Letter from the President
Dear Westminster Community,
One year ago, we reinvigorated our efforts to create a more powerful sense of belonging for all members of our community in response to renewed calls for racial justice in our country. Our initiative followed decades of foundational work to fully embrace the breadth and diversity of Atlanta and our nation. We knew pursuing this vision for belonging would be a process; challenging under normal circumstances and made more complicated by the isolation and impact of the pandemic. Nevertheless, countless Wildcats stepped forward to offer ideas, foster new initiatives, and join the conversation.
We were energized by the potential to do together what we could not do alone: more fully live out Westminster’s values declared at our founding and nurtured in our Christian mission. Compassion, mutual respect, and empathy grounded us while inspiration came from experiencing growth in ourselves and witnessing it in others. Like the learning that occurs in every facet of the Westminster experience, this journey is less about reaching a finish line and more about milestones along the way.
One year ago, we also promised to create an annual report as one such milestone; not to claim success but to recognize how our community has engaged big questions and envisioned how our values can undergird this effort. What follows is not intended to be comprehensive or conclusive. Rather, it is another chapter in the story of our school community, through moments of imperfection and triumph alike, seeing and appreciating one another anew.
Thanks for your support this year and always.
Onward,
Keith Evans
President
About This Piece
This annual report is divided into five sections—equipping, sharing, reflecting, belonging, and joining—each representing ways our community has come together in the past year. You may scroll through the piece or use the navigation at the top of the browser window to move between chapters.
"We come to Westminster looking for a place to lead and build future leaders together—it's a place for possibilities where bright young minds come together, learn to analyze and solve difficult problems together, and build both resilience and friendships along the way. When we can sit together in the difficulty of what's painful, we will find solutions on the other side of that pain. As we remain committed to truly seeing each person in our community, we invite each of you to join the journey. It is on that path that we can unlock the deeper sense of belonging each member of our community deserves. We will emerge even stronger."
Equipping our community with skills and support.
Students, faculty and staff, parents, and alumni have learned from one another and experts in diversity, equity, and inclusion this year. By connecting our community with these opportunities, our hope is to prepare all Wildcats for further courageous conversation and action against racism and discrimination.
Equipping Students through Academics
Across the School, faculty are engaged in the thorough, collaborative work of reviewing and refining the classroom experience through the dual lenses of creating a sense of belonging and challenging students' existing perspectives. In this video, Upper School faculty member John Monahan discusses the importance of having curriculum that is relevant to students and prepares them for adult life.
Sharing our experiences and perspectives.
As we learn from each other through conversation and curiosity, our understanding of ourselves and one another grows. Students, families, and alumni have enjoyed a variety of opportunities to share across races, cultures, religions, and more this year.
Keeping Wildcats Informed
To keep the greater Westminster community involved in our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the School highlighted the crucial ongoing work of faculty, students, parents, and alumni through the use of the Wildcats for Equity webpage, social media, emailed communications, Westminster Magazine, alumni communication platforms, and virtual webinars.
During this academic year, the School has regularly updated the Wildcats for Equity webpage with new resources, emails from President Evans, and a Q&A series with faculty and staff; hosted a three-part parent webinar series; and celebrated student work and cultural holidays on social media.
Below, read an article from the fall 2020 issue of Westminster Magazine highlighting individuals and groups working to create a more equitable community in our School and beyond.
Students Taking the Lead
Tragedy struck in Atlanta in late March when eight people were killed in shootings at three spas in and around the city. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent. As the Westminster community grieved and processed the events, the AAPI student affinity group helped lead conversations around Asian-American identity, history, and perception. The group created the video below, viewed by advisement groups across the Upper School.
Creating a better future through reflecting on our collective past.
We are committed to learning from our collective past—as a school, a city, a nation, and a global community. During the academic day, among our alumni body, and in conversation with one another, we seek to examine history and move forward to make positive change.
Creating a powerful sense of belonging for every Wildcat.
The vision at the heart of our renewed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative this year is one in which each Wildcat feels a powerful sense of belonging. Creating opportunities for all members of our community to fully belong matters: for their mental health, for their full engagement with Westminster’s opportunities, and for the collective strength of our community.
Student Affinity Groups
Westminster offers more than 20 affinity and ally groups for students to gather over shared experiences. In this video, students from two different affinity groups discuss what the groups have meant to them and why they participate.
"I still remember the very first Everybody Cooks event in 2007—it was all about inclusion and highlighting cultures from around the world, and it brought everybody together in a fun family atmosphere. When my children started at Westminster 16 years ago, Julie Boggs was a Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator (now retired), and because of her, I knew Westminster was committed to helping people of every background feel comfortable and encouraging everyone to participate in the life of the school. Other coordinators like Judy Osborne and caring faculty members like Daniel Searl have long been helping foster a sense of belonging for all students."
Joining together to ensure a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
The best way to create a community where all members know they belong and are valued is for every Wildcat to work together. Thank you for joining with your fellow Wildcats on this journey.
“I have been deeply inspired by our community’s commitment to this important work throughout the 2020-21 school year. These are not easy goals to tackle, but our faculty, students, parents, alumni, and school leaders have shown up time and again to engage in the necessary, and sometimes difficult, conversations that will inform our path forward. On behalf of my fellow Trustees, I extend our deepest gratitude to the greater Westminster community for your partnership and support. I look forward to continuing our work through the strategic planning process and the myriad opportunities it will bring to further strengthen and connect our community.”
Our Strategic Plan
Westminster's leadership has laid out a series of initial steps toward creating and implementing a strategic plan that furthers our goals of creating an equitable and inclusive community for all. Read more about this process on the Wildcats for Equity section of our website.
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