Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Millbrook has made a commitment to send every faculty member of color who wants to attend to the National Association of Independent School's People of Color Conference (POCC) every year, and non-POC faculty are also invited to attend. Faculty members have also attended the White Privilege Conference, which offers a more explicit curriculum for white teaching faculty. 

Since 1998, when the POCC was held in Puerto Rico, we’ve also tried to send students to the Student Leadership Diversity Conference (SLDC) every year. This year we sent a full contingent of six students – and the result has generated crucially important conversation and action steps, beginning with rewriting our Diversity Statement.

A full day devoted to discussion on diversity and recommendations on action steps began at Millbrook in 1999 shortly after Millbrook's first group of students attended the Student Leadership Diversity Conference (SLDC).

Faculty members ran Diversity Days initially, but more recently, students have begun leading fishbowl discussions, allowing them to share their experiences, feelings, and insights in a safe space. Friday evening activities also allow two-hour blocks to continue these discussions in student-run clubs and affinity spaces. See below for the complete description of our affinity spaces.

Across every academic department, issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion are brought into lessons. Following are some examples of how we are thoughtfully bringing important discussions into academic spaces.

Beginning in the arts, gallery shows and visiting artists in recent years have been informed by thinking about gender equity, equity for gay and trans people, and racial justice. Exhibits are intended to educate and engage the community in both debate and introspection about identity and intent in art. QuestionBridge: Black Males, Queer Icons, and Guerrilla Girls are a few examples of exhibits that addressed diversity, equity, and inclusion and were multi-disciplinary in their reach. The John Berkey Class of 1991 Visiting Artist Program has been an important vehicle for bringing diverse artists and voices to campus and bridging the studio and the classroom. Millbrook's Art Department also strives to be cognizant of the failings of Western art history and often collaborates with the History Department to provide context for the chronic suppression and degradation of non-white voices.

Over the past five years, the English Department has revised the canon of literature. In every grade students read selections that offer both "windows and mirrors." This approach to selecting books and the framework with which to teach them emphasizes empathetic, critical, and ethical learning. Students are exposed to life experiences that reflect their own experiences, on one hand, and then alternately open windows into other cultures, challenges, and world views. Teachers and students talk explicitly about systemic racism and its history in our country when reading Fences, the play that begins the English IV World Literature course, while watching Ava Duvernay's Thirteenth, and while discussing "The House We Live In," a segment from Race: the Power of an Illusion. 

A humanities elective, Social Justice & Community Engagement, focuses solely on philosophical and systemic questions on poverty, human rights, and justice.

What is an affinity space? The term "affinity space" is used to denote a space set aside for people who have something important in common, e.g. minority status, race, gender, profession, or special interests.

Why is Millbrook School in support of affinity spaces? Millbrook believes affinity gatherings for minority groups are worthwhile for many reasons. Some of them are:

• finding a safe space
• realizing you are not alone in your experiences
• identifying issues, whether emerging or longstanding
• sharing successes (and low-points)
• promoting ideas for action
• providing guidance and support for difficult and courageous conversations, both inside and outside the space
• preparing for deep and honest cross-cultural dialogue with people who might seem different
• providing opportunities for affirmation and celebration

What are Millbrook's affinity groups?
Millbrook's affinity groups meet on designated Friday evenings and include:

• Allies/Anti-Bigotry
• Asian/Pacific Islander
• Black and African-American
• Jewish
• Latino/a/x
• LGBTQ+
• Multi- and Bi-racial
• South Asian

The goal of this community service is twofold: to "break the Millbrook bubble" and to raise awareness of the many unique stories on campus. Students work closely with faculty members to organize cultural events on campus, inform the community on current events throughout the world, and gain an understanding of the varying backgrounds of the members of the Millbrook community. This community service is open to any student interested in recognizing and promoting cultural diversity on campus.

Break the Bubble service members share information regularly on topics of cultural interest, including Indigenous People's Day, National Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, and more. 

These student leaders engage with their peers in constructive ways in all aspects of life at Millbrook, including being a presence in every dorm and in every dorm meeting. Students also work with faculty to support events such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, affinity group meetings, heritage month activities, the annual World Culture Festival, and more.