Social Justice Learning Community
Our Social Justice Learning Community
Since our founding in 1980, The Northwest School has embraced social justice as essential to a robust, forward-thinking education.
As idealistic educators, Northwest faculty believe that we not only can, but also must build a learning community in which all individuals are seen, valued, and heard and that everyone should have what they need to achieve their full potential. We envision a world that is based on inclusion and interdependence, rather than on division and domination.
By working together toward these goals, all members of The Northwest School community — including students, faculty, and families — can have a profound and lasting impact within our school community and beyond.
Our Goals
SOCIAL JUSTICE - The Pursuit of Justice for All
Social Justice is our commitment to engage in dialogue and action to create a future where everyone has access to the opportunities, privileges, and resources necessary to achieve their full potential.
DIVERSITY - A Variety of Identities
Diversity is our commitment to build and maintain a mission-congruent community that includes individuals and families who represent a wide variety of identities. Characteristics by which individuals or families may identify include dimensions of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status and family structure, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, political perspectives, learning differences, ability and more.
EQUITY - Fair Treatment, Full Access
Equity is our commitment to acknowledge and overcome the barriers, both historical and contemporary, that prevent individuals and groups from full agency and achievement. Equity requires the fair treatment of all members of our community, including full access to school programs and opportunities.
INCLUSION - A Sense of Belonging and Empowerment
Inclusion is our commitment to enable and encourage the participation and contribution of all members of our community. Inclusion is the intentional, ongoing practice of creating conditions where all individuals are valued and all voices heard, and where each member of our community feels a sense of belonging, respect, support and empowerment.
When walking the halls of Northwest it is impossible to miss the school's commitment to social justice.
The words of Martin Luther King, Jr., James Baldwin, and Audre Lorde greet students as they walk the stairways and halls. And the names of classrooms - Oscar Romero, Rachel Carson, MLK, and Maya Lin, honor some of the foremost social activists of our times.
Advancing Social Justice in our School Community
Days of Learning
Three full days per year are dedicated to our "Days of Learning," where the entire school community immerses itself...
Days of Learning
Three full days per year are dedicated to our "Days of Learning," where the entire school community immerses itself in the exploration of social justice topics. These events not only serve as platforms for in-depth learning but also provide upper school students with invaluable opportunities to hone their leadership abilities. Collaborating closely with our DEI Director and faculty mentors, students actively participate in the development of each session's curriculum, ensuring that the content is relevant, engaging, and reflective of our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment.
Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC)
SDLC is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Participating students...
Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC)
SDLC is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Participating students develop cross-cultural communication skills, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue and the arts, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles. Each year Northwest selects several interested students to attend the conference.
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups provide students with a safe space to discuss experiences of identity, to create group solidarity, build resilience, increase...
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups provide students with a safe space to discuss experiences of identity, to create group solidarity, build resilience, increase confidence and engagement and provide empowerment toward action and leadership. Each group is sponsored by a faculty member who shares the same identity.
Infused in the Curriculum
Social justice is baked into the learning experience at Northwest. From the artists they study to the scientific experiments they perform...
Infused in the Curriculum
Social justice is baked into the learning experience at Northwest. From the artists they study to the scientific experiments they perform, students are exposed to social justice issues in all of their classes. In Humanities students are studying, reading, discussing and writing about historical manifestations of racism and social injustice. Teachers are asking thought provoking questions about uneven access to resources such as healthcare, food or education. In Ceramics classes, students are creating and donating bowls for the hungry and molding an endangered animal out of clay. Students are also expanding their perspective through trips to countries such as Morocco, Cambodia and Spain.
NAIS Assessment of Inclusivity & Multiculturalism
The NAIS Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) Survey, conducted in Spring 2023 allowed us to hear from our community...
NAIS Assessment of Inclusivity & Multiculturalism
The NAIS Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) Survey, conducted in Spring 2023 allowed us to hear from our community of students, teachers, administrators, alumni and trustees so we could gain a deeper understanding of the climate of inclusivity on campus. The quantitative and qualitative data gleaned from the AIM survey has helped us convert the thoughts and ideas from these findings into tangible goals and attainable benchmarks for continued growth.
People of Color Conference
Each year Northwest provides professional development funds for several faculty members to attend the People of Color Conference. PoCC is a NAIS...
People of Color Conference
Each year Northwest provides professional development funds for several faculty members to attend the People of Color Conference. PoCC is a NAIS conference with programming that support people of color as they pursue strategies for success and leadership in independent schools. It provides a sanctuary and networking opportunities for people of color and allies in independent schools in an effort to build and sustain inclusive school communities.
Faculty DEI Meetings
Faculty meet weekly on Wednesday mornings before the start of school, to foster a sense of community within our organization...
Faculty DEI Meetings
Faculty meet weekly on Wednesday mornings before the start of school, to foster a sense of community within our organization and ensure that our actions align with our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We discuss the diverse backgrounds and needs of our students so that we can better support them in their educational journey. We explore the intersectionality of DEI and environmental sustainability. Recently we began training and practice in Circles to cultivate a culture of open communication, empathy, and accountability within our community. One day per month we break into Affinity groups with individuals of shared identities or experiences to connect and support one another. We also set aside time for DEI Committee work.
Circle Processes
Circles use traditional ritual and structure, drawn from Ancient Native American traditions, as a way to facilitate conversation toward conflict resolution, healing...
Circle Processes
Circles use traditional ritual and structure, drawn from Ancient Native American traditions, as a way to facilitate conversation toward conflict resolution, healing, community building and more. Circles offer an inclusive and collaborative space for group members to share openly and build trust with each other. Everyone is invited to participate and all voices are considered equally important. Every participant has a chance to speak without interruption. A talking piece is passed from person to person, to designate who can speak at that moment—and who is listening (everyone else). This process helps us break down hierarchy, share our personal experiences, recognize our similarities and differences, and experience collaborative approaches to understanding and addressing challenges.
The Experience(X) - Fund
The X-fund provides financial aid recipients with support for the additional costs beyond tuition. It enables these students to fully participate...
The Experience(X) - Fund
The X-fund provides financial aid recipients with support for the additional costs beyond tuition. It enables these students to fully participate all Northwest School experience, inclusive of but not limited to books and supplies, art supplies and instruments, athletic gear and travel, and global experiences. We believe every student should have the opportunity to participate fully in the life of the school, regardless of family income.
Catalina Martinez
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.
Educating for Action
Our graduates head into the wider world with a stronger sense of who they are as a person — their identity, culture, and historical perspective — and the formation of an evolving worldview grounded in empathy, compassion, and integrity.
As students move through our program, they develop an understanding of their own gifts and talents and sense of self, as well as the positive contributions of others, but also of systems — how to navigate them, how to question them, and how to create new, more equitable ones.
We are committed to helping students discover ways to disrupt racism, sexism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia and religious persecution, as well as other systems of oppression. This ongoing work includes both dialogue and action.