Why Riverdale

DEIB at Riverdale

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) is the foundational core of community building that supports the school’s mission and empowers all community members to be their whole selves and thrive– especially those who historically have been and continue to be marginalized because of their cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, national, gender, sexual, spiritual, or socioeconomic identities and their physical, mental, or emotional well-being. We work with intentional passion to actively support equity in and outside the classroom. We recognize that good intentions are not enough and must be connected to purposeful actions.

We use the social justice framework and standards from Learning for Justice to provide a structure for how we think about the areas of work DEIB should encompass. Beyond the IDJA framework, we use the examination of counter-arguments and opportunities for reflection and restorative practices in order to further enrich our discourse as a community. This work is composed of two key branches: Community Engagement (programming: events, professional development, and affinity groups) and Institutional Equity (strategic thinking around how policies and procedures are designed with an equity lens).

Institutional Equity Plan

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. We strive 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. We take action to address the areas of culture, accountability, representation, education, and support.

Supporting Gender and Sexuality Diversity

Riverdale creates opportunities for reflection, exploration, affirmation, and leadership for students around their own identity development in the areas of gender and sexuality. Our emphasis on critical discourse means we support community members to question and challenge assumptions, and our emphasis on belonging means we work not just to see, but to celebrate LGBTQIA+ students, faculty/staff, parents/guardians, and alumni. We believe this work empowers community members of all identities to more authentically articulate and express themselves.

Student Life and DEIB

The four pillars of Student Life at RCS are Identity & Belonging, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) & Character, Health & Wellness, and Learning to Learn. We believe that in order for students to thrive at Riverdale they must be seen, heard, and valued for who they are. Our Student Life curriculum and programming cultivates the emotional intelligence and social emotional learning competencies that allow students to practice self-reflection based on improved self-awareness; use a range of communication skills that support understanding different perspectives and cultivates empathy; tolerate the discomfort and uncertainty that can accompany deep identity work and growth; and cultivate resilience.