Diversity Initiative

Diversity Statement

In keeping with the school's Mission Statement, the Diversity Initiative is dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that respects differences in age, ethnicity, family structure, gender identity or expression, learning style, physical ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. We will continue to develop programs and initiatives that value these differences.

Churchill strives to attract, admit, and retain a diverse student body, faculty, staff, and board of trustees that reflect the larger community of New York City.

The Diversity Initiative meets monthly and is open to all members of the Churchill community: parents, faculty, staff, students, trustees, and alumni.

If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved with the Diversity Initiative, please contact one of the Diversity Coordinators:

Paula Zamora, Elementary School <pzamora@churchillschool.com>
Janah Boccio, Middle School <jboccio@churchillschool.com>
Meir Hamilton, High School <mhamilton@churchillschool.com>

Independent School Diversity Network

Churchill is a proud member of the Independent School Diversity Network (ISDN). ISDN is an inter-school commuity dediated to strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion in indpendent schools by providing family support and programming, resources, and opportunities for communication and collaboration between school communities.

Some Highlights from 2014-2015

The High School History Department started a lunchtime diversity film series. Some of the titles included Miss Representation, Our Spirits Don't Speak English: Indian Boarding School, and Fresh Off the Boat;
Throughout the year, student groups took the lead in organizing Lunch and Learns to raise awareness of diversity-related issues in our community. In November, CORE (Churchill on Racial Equality) led an event to highlight the use of Native American mascots for sports teams;
In March, Middle School Advisories contributed to the board celebrating Women’s History Month by responding to the prompt, “I need feminism because…”
In April, Girls Learn held a lunch and learn to spread awareness of the double standard around the use of the word “slut.” Later in the month, the Gay Straight Alliance brought in peer educators from the Hetrick Martin Institute to commemorate the Day of Silence.
Reprentatives from Churchill attended the NYSAIS Diversity Job Fair and listed employment opportunities withNemNetandInterschool;
In conjunction with ISDN, Churchill hosted a Technology Night which sought to provide information about opportunities in the technology sector to students from underrepresented populations. The panel was comprised of representatives from Girls Who Code, All Star Code, The Flatiron School, and Enstitute;
A high school-wide day of instruction on the Civil Rights Movement which included a trip to see the motion picture Selma;
Churchill faculty from the Elementary, Middle and High School attended a day-long Border Crossers workshop addressing race and racism in the classroom.
All-staff professional development day dedicated to learning about Gender and Sexuality Diversity led by Jennifer Bryan;
Celebrated at Churchill for over a decade, Diversity Day is our annual day devoted to exploring identity and culture; this year's theme was stereotypes. Students of all ages participated in our keynote session led by cartoonist Vishavjit Singh, who discussed his work making cartoons to challenge stereotypes as well as his experiences walking around New York City dressed as a Sikh Captain America. In addition, the day featured our usual lunch of world cuisines, as well as dozens of other workshops for students to attend.
Ms. Edwards of the High School History Department filmed interviews with a group of 12th graders on the impact of black culture in their lives. In May, they hosted a screening and discussion of the film entitled “The Blackness Project.”
Launch of the Faculty Diversity Book Club, which has read and discussed titles such as All I Love and Know, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Covering: The Hidden Assault on our Civil Rights, Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Feminism;