The mission of the Roycemore Parents’ Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (SEI) is to work collaboratively with Roycemore School to cultivate an inclusive learning environment committed to social justice, multiculturalism, equity and representation. SEI celebrates, affirms, and embraces students and families of all races, ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic statuses, gender identities, sexual orientations and abilities. Through intentional acceptance and engagement with difference, SEI strives to foster an inclusive community built on real, effective, and conscious dialogue; and a socially just community built on anti-racism and anti-prejudice.

Why We Started SEI

In response to the elevated visibility of countless Black lives that have been lost to police brutality and injustice, Roycemore partnered with The Latin School of Chicago to provide an event to support our families and students, to serve as a forum to gain insight into the moment that we were experiencing, and to serve as a catalyst for further community engagement.

We invited two renowned scholars, who are also members of our Roycemore community, to lead Critical Conversations on Race and Social Justice in Our Community on June 30, 2020.  Rutgers University President and Distinguished Professor, Dr. Jonathan Holloway, offered his extensive expertise as a U.S. Historian, to provide a historical perspective, referencing America’s foundational documents to better understand the context for the moment.  Acknowledging the collective trauma and anger felt by our community members, Dr. Anthony Chambers brought his psychologist’s lens to share mechanisms for how we might individually and collectively address these feelings and work together as a school community toward both healing and real social change.

An outcome of this community conversation was the desire to create a forum for ongoing discussions and a space to share opportunities for parent engagement on DEI work. The Roycemore Parents’ Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion (SEI) committee was thus formed. See the recording of the community dialogue below.

SEI Efforts and Initiatives

SEI’s efforts, guided by survey feedback and conversations with our school community, include:

• The development of a curriculum checklist, in partnership with the faculty DEI and Curriculum committee, to evaluate classroom book selection for authentic and inclusive learning
• Working with our Roycemore School librarian on enhancing the school library catalog by establishing a wishlist of books that afford authentic and inclusive learning, and providing funds for acquisitions
• Sponsoring faculty and staff training through the YWCA Evanston/Northshore Equity Institute
• Supporting Upper School Diversity Club initiatives, such as by serving as panelists for discussions on Hispanic Heritage and on Understanding Empathy, Race and Allyship
• Sponsoring Middle School Facets virtual field trips for the screening and discussion of the film series “African American Lives: Leaders and Legacies” and the feature film “The Breadwinner”
• Advocating for and seeking ongoing DEI training opportunities for faculty and staff
• Sharing resources for parent and guardian DEI training and education
• Liaising with Family Action Network to suggest topics that are of interest to the community, and to share information about events
• Hosting conversations, such as the upcoming book discussion on Heather McGhee’s “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together,” for parents, faculty and staff
• Networking to share employment opportunities at Roycemore with diverse candidates
• Providing a safe space for candid conversation and action, as well as a support system for students, faculty and staff
• Ongoing outreach with local schools and organizations to gain insight on proven methods for supporting Roycemore School’s DEI goals