Diversity, Equity, and Belonging

Building on the powerful ways in which our school cultivates community and belonging, BFS—led by the office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging—introduced affinity groups for the parents and guardians of our students in the Fall of 2024. This completes the circle, as affinity groups have been in full effect for BFS students and colleagues.

As programming whose outcome is to deepen belonging, our school’s friends and family facing affinity spaces engage connection, build community, cultivate leadership and nurture spaces of dialogue and support.

Although each of us may lay claim to multiple identities, affinity groups call participants into community-based on their individual identity. The determination and participation in an affinity group is guided by one’s ability to identify from the “I” and “we” perspective. There are alliance groups which work to be a space where the group examines and considers. As family groups, we recognize that identity holds complexity, nuance and emergence; we also know that each of us enters from a different understanding in our journey. You’re encouraged to join the group that will affirm your family’s particular needs as directly connected to your child’s experience at BFS. The groups provide a space of sanctuary and community as well as connection for family groups.

As Rosetta Lee shares: “For families navigating predominantly white schools, being in the numeric minority is a fact of every day.” Affinity groups provide unapologetic affirmations of identity and embrace the many identities a person can have. Our friends and families feel free to be part of multiple groups if your child and family’s experience can identify from the “I” or “we” perspective.

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) defines an affinity group as a designated “brave space” where everyone in that group shares a particular identity. This identity can be based on race, gender, sexual orientation, language, nationality, physical/mental ability, socioeconomic class, family structure, religion, etc. Affinity groups can be a place for people in a community to come together to learn more about their identities and to feel more connected based on those identities. During affinity groups, participants might share and talk about their experiences or focus on working toward a particular mission or goal.

At Brooklyn Friends School, we celebrate the rich diversity of our community through signature identity-based events, hosted in collaboration between our Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Office and our Brooklyn Friends and Families (BFF) volunteer organization. Throughout the school year, the entire BFS community is invited to come together for a series of cultural celebrations, each honoring a unique heritage and fostering belonging for all. These events are part of a broader series of observances and recognitions of cultural heritage months, deepening our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Currently, these joyful events include a Latinx Community Dinner, a Black History Month Celebration, an All-School Shabbat Dinner, and an AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Celebration. Each gathering is a vibrant reflection of the many cultures we celebrate, featuring delicious cuisine, music, and dancing. The festivities often include special performances, such as traditional dancers or musicians, offering a deeper connection to the heritage being honored.

More than just celebrations, these events provide meaningful opportunities to strengthen our bonds as a community, share in each other’s stories, and enjoy time together in a welcoming, inclusive environment that embraces all families and individuals at BFS.