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DEIJA at Hillbrook

Statement of Inclusivity

 
We are an intentionally diverse community committed to a unified vision - to inspire students to achieve their dreams and reach beyond themselves to make a difference in the world. We believe that in order to achieve this vision, our community needs to reflect the diversity of Silicon Valley, including but not limited to diversity in socioeconomic status, family structure, race, ethnicity, learning abilities, gender, belief systems, and sexual orientation.
At Hillbrook, we see inclusivity as core subject matter and believe students learn best in an inclusive environment where every child has a voice. Every individual - child and adult - comes to Hillbrook with a unique identity and a singular experience. The greater our differences, the greater our opportunity for deep understanding. We want Hillbrook to be a safe, comfortable space for children to learn about obvious and subtle differences in themselves and others.

 

Our community works together to create a climate of mutual respect. We lean into the sometimes complex and challenging conversations about inclusivity because we believe that the growth of a community and learner is continual, and striking a careful balance between individuality and community can be difficult work. We are committed to inclusivity as an ongoing process that ultimately makes Hillbrook stronger, and that prepares our students to develop into responsible citizens.

 

Gulliver LaValle

Gulliver LaValle

Interim Head of Middle School; Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Sitara Jiwani

Sitara Jiwani

Associate Director of DEI

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Hillbrook Means the Following:

Diversity

Diversity at Hillbrook is about who's in the room. It asks, does our school reflect the diverse identifiers of the broader community in which we live? 

Examples: Psychological, physical, and social differences that occur among any and all individuals; including but not limited to race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, education, family status, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability, and learning styles.

Benefits/Outcomes: By surrounding ourselves with differences in identities, lived experience, and perspectives of thought, we create a richer, more academic setting. Studies have consistently shown that the more diverse a group of learners or problem solvers, the more creative and higher quality their outcomes.

Equity

Equity at Hillbrook is about access. It asks, does each student receive what they need to succeed—access to opportunity, networks, resources, and supports—based on where they are and where they want to go? 

Examples: Flexible tuition, differentiation of classroom instruction and facilities for all genders 

Benefits/Outcomes: When our Hillbrook community has full access to every individual’s gifts, values, and interests, we are challenged to build new skills, and create new systems, ideas and solutions that are better for people and planet. Growth occurs when individuals gain access in a way that fits them, leading to a varied yet fair engagement within the community as the norm.

Inclusion

Inclusion at Hillbrook is about membership & belonging. It asks, does every individual feel empowered to fully participate and experience a full sense of belonging? 

Examples: Advisory/morning meetings for students; Voluntary, employee-led groups that foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with organizational mission, values, goals, business practices, and objectives; family and employee affinity spaces. 

Benefits/Outcomes: When all are welcome in the way each person shows up as individuals, they will thrive and feel celebrated for being themselves. Everyone shares a sense that Hillbrook is “theirs” - their home and their school.

Hillbrook strives to be an anti-racist organization

 

We examine the structures, roles, processes, and practices that negatively impact people of color inside and outside of organizations, and outline specific tactics to mitigate them as part of a process to move the complex and critical work of diversity, equity, and inclusion forward at Hillbrook. While this may sound obvious, most people think about racism as it shows up at the individual and interpersonal level. Racism operates on a larger level — often inconspicuously — within both organizations and systems, and it underlies myriad social issues in the United States. Not only must we recognize that we participate in a racist system that continues to exclude and undervalue people of color, but we must also confront the root causes and manifestations of structural racism. We start by actively building an equity-focused culture because it is the foundational work when organizations seek to advance equity; it creates the conditions that help us to adopt anti-racist mindsets and actions as individuals, and to center equity in our life and in our classrooms. While the work of true race equity is bigger, deeper, and sometimes more difficult than culture alone, we believe that by starting here and through sustained dedication and effort, equity across our community is attainable and required to maintain an exceptional learning environment for children, families and employees.