Equity and social impact work at Drew aims to cultivate a joyful and inclusive community–one where each of us takes personal responsibility for our collective progress. We strive to foster an environment where equity and respect for others are core values, and where members of our diverse community can show up as their authentic selves.

Finding your voice is a process that requires meaningful collaboration and the cultivation of empathy within a community. It demands honest self-work and the willingness to engage in community with discomfort, to confront difference and opposition both within and around you.

Our Goal

of Equity and Social Impact Work at Drew

  • To allow students to learn about themselves as multifaceted individuals.
  • To learn about and how to respect the differences and similarities of others.
  • To broaden awareness about the world and how it interconnects with one's own life.
  • To develop cultural competency.
  • To build a community of trust, honesty, openness, dialogue, and respect.

Our Commitment

to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

In order to allow for our mission to empower student voice and maximize impact, the Drew community is committed to intentional anti-racist practices, equity, representation, and social justice* – that is grounded in a community of care. We bring these values to life through curriculum and programs that promote respect and belonging.** Drew’s approach reflects our belief that social justice work is grounded in appreciation for, expression of, and attention to each person’s intersecting identities. 

By creating an inclusive environment without tolerance of discrimination, Drew provides the opportunity for continuous challenges and growth. We hold ourselves accountable to these values through our policies and practices.

*Social Justice: A process, not an outcome, which (1) seeks fair (re)distribution of resources, opportunities, and responsibilities; (2) challenges the roots of oppression and injustice; (3) empowers all people to exercise self-determination and realize their full potential; (4) and builds social solidarity and community capacity for collaborative action.--Center for the Study of Social Policy

**Belonging: “More than just being seen or feeling included, belonging entails having a voice and the opportunity to use it to make demands upon society and political institutions. Belonging is more than having access; it is about the power to co-create the structures that shape a community.” (from “Redefining Who Belongs”--The Othering and Belonging Institute)

 


Self-Reported Racial and Ethnic Groups

Affinity Groups

Led by students and supported by faculty, affinity groups give teens the chance to explore identity and community in ways that feel real and relevant.

Affinity Groups are identity-based spaces where students come together around shared lived experiences, including race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and more. These groups offer a place to connect, process, reflect, and support one another without having to explain where you’re coming from first.

They’re student-led and faculty-supported, grounded in community, and part of Drew’s larger commitment to building a school culture rooted in empathy, equity, and belonging. Affinity Groups are one way students explore identity and help shape a community where everyone can show up as their full selves.

Find your people.
Share your experience.


What Equity in Action Looks Like at Drew

The commitments outlined in Drew’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging are both aspirational and actionable. They reflect our shared values and the standards we strive to uphold—not just in policy, but in practice.

At Drew, we recognize that this is deeply human work. Building a truly inclusive and equitable community requires consistent care, reflection, and accountability in every interaction, every day. It is ongoing work—complex, nuanced, and shaped by our relationships with one another.

We are not “there” yet, and perhaps never fully will be. But in that gap between our ideals and our realities lies the aspiration we return to daily: to live out our values with integrity, humility, and a commitment to growth.


Meet the Team

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