Belonging

Oakwood strives to build a learning environment with our core values of community engagement and belonging at the center.

We believe anti-bias, belonging, community engagement and institutional equity frameworks are essential to our academic program because they create opportunities for critical thinking, social/emotional skill acquisition, self-expression and design thinking. Oakwood views anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity practices as a foundational component of our educational program and grounded in our school's statement of philosophy:

from Oakwood's Statement of Philosophy

“We intend an Oakwood education to foster a sense of community. We seek to create a vibrant public life in the school, where students learn to express themselves fluently and responsibly and to consider differing perspectives respectfully. We believe that an environment most conducive to learning and growth is diverse and inclusive.”

Oakwood School pledges our pursuit of excellence by intentionally fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.

List of 6 items.

With purpose, Oakwood celebrates and affirms diversity,

of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, faith, family structure, socioeconomic background, age, and ability.
We also recognize the continued need for growth as an institution,

so that Oakwood—its board, faculty, staff, administration, student body, and families—may better represent the diversity of Los Angeles while better supporting equitable and inclusive practices and policies for all.
This ongoing commitment includes denouncing all forms of White supremacy,

systemic racism, patriarchal oppression, and class discrimination while empowering our community to do the same.
We uphold the importance of intersectionality in our approach,

and we hold space for prioritizing pressing and timely issues so we can engage with an ever-changing world.
Within this questioning and consideration of school and society,

we acknowledge temporary discomfort as a possible reaction, and endorse the examination of our interpersonal and internalized biases as its most effective cure.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to creating an educational experience,

within a school community and learning environment that balances the intellectual, emotional, and social growth of children, allowing us all to learn how to honor the dignity and experience of every human being.

Ratified by the Oakwood School Board of Trustees on March 3, 2021

WAYS TO ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY:

List of 7 items.

Student Affinity & Alliance Groups
Affinity Groups provide a space for people who have an identifier in common (e.g. race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, family status, etc.) and can speak to the experience of being a member of a group from the “I” perspective.

Current student affinity groups at the secondary campus are:
- Adopted Affinity Group
- RepresentAsian (Asian American Pacific Islander Affinity Group)
- BMORE (Black/Brown Men at Oakwood Representing Excellence)
- CAAMASO (Connecting African, African American, and Multiracial African American Students at Oakwood)
- DIVAS (Daughters for Inclusive Values and Social Justice) of Color
- Jewish Affinity Group
- Middle Eastern Affinity Group
- Multiracial Affinity Group
- Somos Unidos (Latinx/a/o Affinity Group)
caSa: cultural awareness & Solidarity alliance
The student leaders of the High School Affinity & Alliance Groups meet with the Assistant Head of School for Community Engagement and Belonging every two weeks to remain informed on anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity work at Oakwood, learn about topics of importance to Oakwood’s belonging and community engagement journey, plan events and programs, affirm identity, and cultivate solidarity across differences and build justice-minded solutions to issues.
Alliance Groups bring together people who have common commitments to an identifier group and are for individuals who identify as members of the group and/or as people who support and stand in solidarity with that group. This category includes groups such as:
- The Rainbow Alliance (Elementary & Secondary Campuses)
- Gender Equality Club at Oakwood
- White Anti-Racist Student Group (Elementary & Secondary Campuses)
Family Affinity Gatherings
Affinity Gatherings take the affinity group from just being about the student to including the entire family. By bringing together families who have an identifier in common, e.g. race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, family status, etc., it allows for families to connect with each other, and other faculty, staff, and administrators in a more relaxed and celebratory way. These events are held annually and include:
- APISA+ Affinity Family Gathering
- CAAMASO Affinity Family Gathering
- G.U.M. (Growing Up Mixed) Family Gathering
- Jewish Affinity Family Gathering
- LGBTQ+ Family Gathering
- Neurodiversity Affinity Family Gathering
- Somos Unidos Affinity Family Gathering
- White-Antiracist Gathering
Voices Envisioned

Voices Envisioned is a series of events for the entire Oakwood community to explore important issues related to anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity. Sponsored by the CEB Office and Parent & Guardian Organization DEIB Committee, it has featured presentations and appearances by the world's most prominent authors, artists, activists, and educators.

Click here to learn more about this year's Voices Envisioned speaker series.
CEB Learning for Parents & Guardians

Oakwood parents and guardians have a multitude of opportunities to engage in conversations, discourse, and learning on anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity. In addition to Oakwood’s long-standing Voices Envisioned speaker series, other parent education opportunities include workshops with guest specialists and leading educators, and the facilitated White Anti-Racist Parent/Guardian Group.
IDEAS Summit

IDEAS is an acronym for identity, diversity, equity, and action in solidarity.

Throughout the school year, our community engages in learning and work that affirms identity, acknowledges systemic inequities, and pursues justice. Students and educators learn through coursework, workshops, conferences, immersion, training, and more.
Student-initiated events such as this were first launched in 2006 as “Diversity Day”, which grew into an annual Diversity Week, when the entire school community focuses on critical explorations of difference, equity, justice, and positive identity development.
NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference

This is an annual gathering of independent school student leaders (9-12) from around the country that focuses on the development of self-identity and the search for community spirit and understanding. Each year a delegation of Oakwood students attends SDLC to foster and support emerging student leadership. Students return from the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference with a broadened perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Oakwood, as well as common language, to identify and articulate these issues. Students also gain greater self-awareness, stronger leadership skills, and renewed conviction about the productive and valuable role they can play in helping Oakwood continue to become a more equitable school.
NAIS People of Color Conference (POCC)

The purpose of the NAIS People of Color Conference is to provide a safe space for networking, collaboration, learning, and development for people of color and allies working in independent schools. For decades, PoCC has nourished and sustained people of color in independent schools. In essence, it is an international affinity group space, one that gives voice to, protects, affirms, and dignifies the unique experiences of people of color in our schools and society at large. It is a space to learn and a space to heal. It is a space to convene, and a space to share with people who understand. We are proud to say that 2024 marks Oakwood’s 36th year participating in PoCC and our 30th at SDLC.