As always, the work we do following The Teen Summit is closely tied to the work we do in our diversity club. Following the annual Teen Summit the participants report their experiences during a club meeting, we brainstorm ideas, and plan projects.

A huge project last year was to organize and follow through with student affinity groups. We have found mentoring teachers and developed guidelines for five different affinity groups and are beginning our second year with that work. These groups are endorsed and defined by our national organization in the following statement:

“The National Association of Independent Schools has long supported the development and operation of racial/ethnic/cultural affinity groups. The overarching vision for NAIS affinity group work is to provide a safe space for all participants to identify salient issues and common concerns through dialogue, using our individual voices to bring about affirmation, fellowship, connection (networking), and empowerment: to come together for sharing and listening and offering support in the service of greater understanding.”

In the past year, faculty and students from four area Independent Schools, three of whom participate in The Teen Summit (St John’s, Episcopal High School, and Kinkaid), formed The Houston Diversity Coalition. We meet monthly to exchange ideas, network, plan community outreach, and take projects back to each of our schools.

We continue our working relationship with Episcopal High School by participating in their annual CultureFest. Food and entertainment bring the school communities together to celebrate culture and ethnicity. This year five groups of students from St John’s will be cooking and serving and two girls will be presenting an Indian dance performance.

Our newest plan for this year is to engage in a student exchange with one of the city’s Charter Schools. We will send students to Challenge High School and invite their students to visit for a day at St John’s.

Activities we do in our diversity coalition meetings		Culture fest with Episcopal High School