Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
DEI Within ABC and Across the Town of Andover
Juneteenth Event In Andover 2020
As members of the Andover community, we recognize that we have a great deal of work ahead to deepen our understanding of racism and implicit bias, create comprehensive and sustainable change to reduce racial disparities and fully welcome every individual. The Andover community and town leaders are committed to this work. As part of a renewed commitment to creating a community which embraces inclusiveness and respect for everyone, Andover DIVERSE was launched in 2020 as a town-wide initiative. Working with focus groups of residents, communities of faith, communities of color and public and private school leaders and the community at large, the town is setting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) priorities and developing educational opportunities, with a focus on implicit bias, equity and anti-racism. The town is funding a new position to ensure continued focus on the important and ongoing DEI work.
Black Lives Matter banner hanging on West Parish Church
Board members and staff from A Better Chance of Andover are a strong voice in these forums and are routinely sought for input as community leaders on social justice and in shaping a broader inclusion strategy.
The many faith communities in Andover welcome Scholars to worship, including congregations with deep connections to social and racial justice. In June 2020, clergy from different faiths committed to a unified voice and in solidarity to seek justice and equity for everyone, proclaiming Black Lives Matter and calling on the community to do the work needed to achieve racial justice.
Also in June 2020, The Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices and Allies hosted their first Juneteenth event in Andover, celebrating the Merrimack Valley black community. In 2021 there were two Juneteenth events— a family celebration in the town park and the second annual Juneteenth block party!
DEI Within Andover Public Schools
Andover High School has, in recent years, expanded its DEI programs, including the Diversity Club and Black Student Union—both founded by past and current Scholars. Our Scholars are making a difference in improving the community for BIPOC at AHS through their participation in the following clubs and programs:
Skye’s Senior Capstone Project Presentation: Equity in Education
In 2015, Andover Public Schools created a Cultural Climate Committee (C3), which fosters inclusivity, equity and appreciation of cultural diversity across the district and for each of our schools. Each school has modeled these goals using the C3 framework for their own school communities to address their unique cultural needs.
In the summer of 2020, Andover Public Schools adopted an educational equity policy with the goal to eliminate policies, practices, attitudes and cultural messages that impact differential outcomes based on students’ identity and aims to provide all students with high-quality instruction and identity-safe classrooms and schools.
Diversity Club Co-Presidents Leannette and Mafoudia
The Diversity Club is a safe environment that recognizes and upholds the importance of diversity in all aspects of life. It strives to make our community more conscious of the world around it through thoughtful fun activities and discussions. The club has inspired middle school students to form their own Diversity Clubs, including one at Doherty, the middle school a few blocks away from the ABC house.
The Black Student Union creates a healthy environment for Black students and individuals by actively uniting students and staff by providing educational, social, and community outreach programming to the Andover High School community. BSU sets out to educate the Andover community on some of the aspects of the Black experience in order to decrease discrimination and injustice.
DEI Committee is a student-led committee dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the APS system by amplifying student voices. Members will advise the administration on issues pertaining to DEI, ranging from curriculum and policies, as well as organizing multicultural events.
3 members of Amigos Unidos celebrating Health Professionals Week
Amigos Unidos is also all-inclusive, cultural awareness club at AHS dedicated to scholarly support, social enrichment, and community service. The club focuses on guest speakers and social gatherings. Activities have included introductions to Latin music and traditional dance, recipe sharing and taste-testing, and celebrations of all things that preserve culture.
Andover High School offers classes in Race and Membership, Latin American Studies for Social Justice, and Democracy and Media Literacy. Both required and elective courses, across disciplines, explore issues of race, diversity, and equity. In addition, more than 200 high school students are now engaged in our high school’s Global Pathways network, exploring how they can address United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) and how to understand and work with other countries and cultures as we all strive to become global citizens.