Equity, Justice, and Community
The values of equity, justice, and community are deeply woven into the mission and values of Sidwell Friends School.
Sidwell Friends School established the Office of Equity, Justice, and Community (EJC) in 2019 under the leadership of its inaugural director, Natalie Randolph ’98. The position is now an endowed one, ensuring the stability of the programs the office offers to the community.
In 2021, the School developed a strategic action plan for the office that focused on three goals:
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Focus on Directly Supporting a Student-Centered Experience
Create and maintain a student-centered approach to all EJC work, increase student EJC programming and co-curricular experiences, and increase student collaboration in institutional planning.
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Evaluate Current Structures and Systems, and Address Programmatic Gaps
Create a reflective, evaluative culture in which Sidwell Friends regularly and critically assesses institutional, divisional, and departmental policies, procedures, systems, structures, and curricula to identify and address those that may be harmful, inequitable, or indirectly cause inequities.
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Broaden the EJC Practice
Broaden EJC practice so that it encourages community members to seek and honor diverse voices, to practice inquiry and empathy, and to act with purpose and integrity.
Community Engagement
Sidwell Friends School aims to graduate students who are actively engaged in the world and think critically about what is going on around them, who ask about the root causes of injustices, who have the tools to act on their ideas, and who are empathetic, collaborative, and reflective.
These ideals can be taught through engaging responsibly with communities. The Upper School service program and graduation requirement puts Sidwell Friends' ideals into action by getting students involved in local and global communities around important social justice issues. The Office of Equity, Justice, and Community supports the School’s community service programs and its graduation requirement.
Students and faculty in PK–12 collaborate with local and global nonprofit organizations that focus on a range of social justice issues. We aim to serve our community partners while also working toward specific academic learning goals and providing opportunities for student reflection and lifelong action.
Quakerism has taught me to care for others, to help other people at all times. ... It made me think about how other people’s lives affect my life and how my life affects other people’s. – 10th Grade Student
Bias Incident Reporting Form
Sidwell Friends School is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every member of its community. This commitment extends beyond physical safety to include a culture in which individuals can learn, teach, and work in an environment as free of bias, discrimination, or fear as possible.
We encourage members of the Sidwell Friends community who have knowledge of a bias or discrimination incident or believe they have been subjected to bias or discrimination to bring these concerns forward by submitting the form below or contacting Natalie Randolph, director of Equity, Justice, and Community.