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DEIJB Update: Advancing Our Commitment to Diversity and Belonging
by Leah Lader, WSP Music Teacher & DEIJB Committee Member
Welcome back from the DEIJB committee! DEIJB stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging. Our committee consists of faculty and administrative staff members who meet weekly for self-study, healthy discussions, and collaborative projects which make a positive difference in our school’s ongoing work of better incorporating DEIJB.
We have great news to share – starting this school year, AWSNA, the governing body for Waldorf Schools in North America, added an 8th Principle to offer further guidance: Waldorf schools honor and embrace human diversity and dignity.
Over the course of the next two years, WSP will work with Alma Partners to start us off on the right path and advance our commitment to DEIJB. Alma Partners works primarily with Waldorf schools to align their practices with their values and bridge the gap between ideals and actions. We experienced the first two workshops in August with Masumi Hayashi-Smith, our Alma Partners Facilitator, who will continue to lead us through an additional six workshops over the course of the next two school years.
During these first two workshops, we discussed the differences between intention and impact. In the context of DEIJB, our intentions might be rooted in kindness or a desire to be inclusive, however, focusing solely on good intentions can sometimes serve as a defense mechanism to avoid accountability. This often arises due to a lack of awareness around the historical and cultural contexts which inform how our actions are received. Understanding the impact of our actions requires a deep commitment to self-reflection and learning.
By centering impact, deepening our understanding of bias and privilege, and grounding our work in shared agreements & community aspirations, we can move from well-meaning gestures to transformative actions that truly support diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, as well as create a community of belonging where all feel welcomed and supported.
