The NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC)

PoCC is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools’ commitment to equity and justice in teaching and learning. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership and professional development and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. PoCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees, with knowledge, skills, and experiences to improve and enhance the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in their schools, as well as the attending academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike.

Seed (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity)

The National SEED Project is a peer-led professional development program that creates conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward greater equity and diversity. We do this by training individuals to facilitate ongoing seminars within their own institutions and communities. SEED leaders design their seminars to include personal reflection and testimony, listening to others’ voices, and learning experientially and collectively. Through this methodology, SEED equips us to connect our lives to one another and to society at large by acknowledging systems of oppression, power, and privilege.

Faculty SEED

All new FXW faculty and staff members participate in SEED Seminar over a course of 4 days during new FAS orientation. Veteran FAS members who have not gone through SEED are given opportunities to participate in SEED seminars at various times during the summer months and school year.

Family SEED

Family SEED Seminar is facilitated by FXW’s trained SEED team of faculty and staff members. The monthly sessions are offered to our parents/guardians who desire to learn how to practice equity within our diverse community and beyond. In our SEED sessions, we have created brave spaces in which to build a foundational knowledge base of social systems and intersecting identity topics concerning race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, et al.

JEDI Student Leaders

Our goal is to continue to create a curriculum that will provide mirrors and windows for all students and allow for learning, sharing, and discussion of our identity not only as a school, but also as individuals who are learning how to value the diverse community that we are inside and outside of the two FXW campuses.

At FXW, we are committed to honoring and celebrating the rich diversity of religious traditions and cultural identities within our community. We recognize that meaningful observance takes many forms, and we strive to create inclusive opportunities for learning, reflection, and celebration throughout the year. 

Our approach includes, but is not limited to:

• Campus assemblies, often developed in partnership with students, families, and faculty and staff, in collaboration with campus leaders and the Director of DEI
• Broadcast announcements that acknowledge and educate our community about significant observances and cultural celebrations
• Displays across campus that highlight and raise awareness about cultural traditions, histories, and contributions
• Diversity Dialogues that create space for conversation, reflection, and shared understanding
• Classroom-based experiences, enriched by the voices and participation of students, families, and faculty and staff
• Community events that bring people together in celebration and learning

We are continually growing in our efforts and remain committed to engaging our community in ways that are authentic, educational, and reflective of our shared values.

The following is a sampling of the cultural events, activities, and celebrations that take place throughout the school year.