DEIB at Riverdale
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) are foundational elements that support the school’s mission and empower all students to learn and thrive in age appropriate ways at Riverdale and beyond. Our school practices around equity and community engagement foster a diverse and inclusive environment where the identity of each and every member is valued and respected. We are unified around our common values such as empathy, respect, and kindness; it is as much a part of the Riverdale experience to feel belonging as it is to create belonging for others.
Our Commitment
At Riverdale, we recognize that the work of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is iterative and requires a consistent commitment. It is not a checklist that can be completed by a few people. It is everyone’s work. We prioritize transparency and accountability as a school community and demonstrate that through our yearly Institutional Equity Plan. This document outlines our commitment to foster belonging and critical discourse while striving to address the systemic issues of inequity, bias, and racism to ensure that Riverdale students, faculty/staff, families, and alumni feel seen, heard, and valued. The action steps outlined in our plan address areas of culture, accountability, representation, education, and support.
Supporting DEIB through Affinity Groups
Affinity groups strengthen the entire RCS community by providing additional opportunities for each of us to find support, connection and a voice at our school. Our student affinity program expands across all three divisions. In addition, we have affinity groups for our faculty/staff, parents/guardians, and alumni. These voluntary spaces foster deep reflection and are designed with a focus on an ethos of care. The goal of our affinity groups is to facilitate positive identity exploration and development towards the larger goal of creating an inclusive and thriving community. Although members of the group may share a common identity, it does not mean that everyone in that group has had the same experiences. Rather, participants recognize that their identity has an effect on the way they live in the world.
