Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

At Maret, fostering a just and inclusive community is central to our mission. We believe that a healthy school environment thrives on open dialogue, self-reflection, and a steadfast commitment to equitable practices and policies.

Our journey toward equity is ongoing, characterized by growth and learning. While recognizing our imperfections, we are determined to build a stronger, more inclusive community that contributes positively to the world

Office of Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (OEIB)

The OEIB supports faculty in integrating equity into both teaching and school systems. The office offers resources, facilitates discussions, provides lesson planning support, and delivers professional development to empower educators in their equity work.

Board Committee on Education and Equity

The Education and Equity Committee of the Board is responsible for ensuring that the School is building an equitable and inclusive learning community. This includes reviewing Maret’s educational programs to make sure that they are consistent with and meet the high standards of the mission of the School. The Committee also ensures that the Board has in place policies and procedures that promote the principles of equity and inclusion in general and within the academic and co-curricular programs at Maret. The Committee reports to the Board about the nature, direction, and needs of the School’s educational programs and helps cultivate an appreciation for the broad diversity of the School.

Programs

Every year we have a full calendar of events, discussion groups, workshops. Together, we learn, grow, and take action to promote equity and inclusion in our school and our communities.

Adult listening to student in the Mixed Forum

Girl sharing with a table at Mixed Forum

Student Programs

K-12 National Coming Out Day
In the fall, Maret honors National Coming Out Day by celebrating the LGBTQIA members of our community (students, faculty, parents, alumni). The day often includes chalking the sidewalks around campus with names of famous LGBTQIA people, an assembly in which we invite members of our own community to share their stories, and a photo exhibit for members of our community to share their personal connections to the LGBTQ community.

Lower School Affinity Groups
These spaces provide valuable opportunities for personal growth and community building. These optional after-school spaces are designed to be age and developmentally-appropriate, fostering a supportive environment where students can celebrate their unique identities while connecting with peers who share similar experiences.

African American / Black Affinity
Asian Affinity
Jewish Affinity Latinx/a/o and Hispanic Heritage
Middle Eastern Affinity
Multiracial Affinity
New Student Affinity

Lower School Culture Club
Club Culture Club is an after-school activity. Each session is led by a member of the Maret community who shares their cultural traditions through food, games, music, dance, crafts, and/ or other activities. The club’s members acknowledge and celebrate the differences among various cultures while also recognizing the aspects that connect us as people.

Middle School Affinity Groups
Middle school affinity groups are initiated by students, and middle schoolers can opt to join based on their personal identity. The groups meet during lunch to discuss issues and concerns that are specific to them—both issues from the larger community and topics students feel are important to their experiences at Maret. Students benefit from these affinity groups by having a safe place to share, connect, and collaborate with peers of a shared identity. Middle School Affinity Groups include:

Asian Affinity
Bi-racial / Multiracial Affinity
Black Affinity
Jewish Affinity
Latinx Affinity
Middle Eastern / North African Affinity
Neurodiversity Affinity
Q Affinity

The Middle School also has a White Anti-Racist Allies (WARA) group. It isn't an affinity group, rather a working group focused on education and action.

Upper School Affinity/Ally Groups
Upper School affinity groups provide a space for reflection, dialogue, and support for students who share an identity. Participation in affinity groups is voluntary. Affinity groups help facilitate positive identity exploration and provide a space for affirmation and development towards a larger goal of creating an inclusive and thriving school culture. Upper School Affinity and Ally Groups include:

Acute and Chronic Illness Affinity
Anti-Racist Allies (ARA)
Asian Affinity
Black Girl Magic
Black Student Union
Handsome Black Men Affinity
Jewish Affinity
Latinx Affinity
Lesbian Affinity
Middle Eastern North African Affinity
Multiracial Affinity
Q Affinity
South Asian Affinity
Unique Family Structure Affinity

The Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA) is a student-run club whose purpose is to build alliances between students who fall along a variety of positions on the sexual- and gender- spectrums. Their mission is to help create a well-informed, welcoming, and empowered student body. They raise awareness of current social issues, encourage cross-difference dialogue, and provide leadership for school-sponsored events, such as National Coming Out Day and Day of Silence.

Maret Upper School Equity Council (MUSE)
MUSE is made up of 12 students across grade levels with prior experience in equity work who meet regularly to discuss and actively address equity issues in the Upper School. The group addresses real-time student experiences of marginalization, discrimination, or exclusion and meets periodically with administrators and other student groups in the community.

NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference
Each year, Maret students attend this multiracial and multicultural gathering of upper school student leaders. Students learn cross-cultural communication skills, the foundations of allyship, networking principles, and elements of social justice practice. The conference’s small “family groups” provide a safe place to reflect and discuss issues of race and identity, as well as networking opportunities to connect with other students.

Faculty Programs

Deepening the Discussion About Race
At the beginning of each school year, new faculty participate in the week-long Deepening the Discussion About Race workshop designed to develop a greater awareness of how race shapes their leadership at Maret. They examine the history and context of race and racism in our country, our city, and on our campus. Together, they develop a common language, a shared framework, and a set of tools to benefit their students.

During the week participants develop a greater awareness of how race shapes their leadership at Maret as well as an understanding of the history and context around race and racism in our country, in Washington, and at Maret. Participants examine definitions of racism, oppression, and white privilege and explore how this is ingrained at Maret. Together, faculty develops a common language, a shared framework, and a set of tools that will positively impact their students.

The workshop began in 2012, and to date, 100% of our faculty have completed the workshop.

Faculty Affinity Groups
Faculty Affinity Groups encourage building community and provide a safe space for all participants to identify salient issues and common concerns through dialogue; bring about affirmation, connection, and empowerment; and come together to promote and prepare for cross-cultural dialogue with other affinity groups. (from NAIS).

Black Faculty Affinity
East Asian Faculty Affinity
Faculty Parents
Faculty with Parents Suffering from Dementia
Middle Eastern Faculty Affinity
LQBTQIA+ Faculty Affinity

While not an affinity group, A White Anti-Racist Educator (AWARE) working group meets in affinity to pursue further education and take meaningful action toward a more inclusive and equitable school community.

NAIS People of Color Conference
Each year, Maret faculty attend this conference, which works to effect change in schools and in the world, while promoting self-discovery and personal enrichment. The conference’s small affinity groups provide a safe place to reflect and discuss issues of race and identity, as well as networking opportunities to connect with other educators and DEIJ leaders. Maret faculty members attend workshops focused on curriculum, leadership, and building inclusive communities that are led by expert practitioners at independent schools nationwide.

Parent & Community Programs

Meet, Eat, and Greet
An annual welcome reception for parents/ and guardians of students of color.

Parent Affinity Groups
Affinity groups gather in order to encourage community building; provide a safe space for all participants to identify salient issues and common concerns through dialogue; bring about affirmation, connection, and empowerment; and collectively promote and prepare for cross-cultural dialogue with other affinity groups.

Maret Asian Pacific Islander Affinity (MAPIA)
Black Parents at Maret (BPAM)
Jewish Parent Affinity
Latino/x Affinity Group of Maret (LAGM)
Middle Eastern North African Affinity Group (MENA)
White Anti-Racist Working Group

Questions?
Please reach out.

Michelle Black
(she/her/hers)
Director of Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Together, We Grow

In this section

In this section

Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Office of Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (OEIB)

Board Committee on Education and Equity

Programs

Student Programs

Faculty Programs

Parent & Community Programs

Questions?
Please reach out.

Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Office of Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (OEIB)

Board Committee on Education and Equity

Questions? Please reach out.

Questions?
Please reach out.