Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are integral parts of the BWL experience. Our school motto, “Integrity, Loyalty, Civility,” is modeled for students K–12 through discussion in the classroom and activities during assemblies. We believe that learning happens best within a diverse community, and our student body reflects this. Through our classroom debates and discussions, we encourage civil discourse with those who have differing opinions and expose our students to a variety of perspectives. Our goal is for all members of our community to feel safe, respected, and affirmed. The BWL Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and some ongoing programs that demonstrate our commitment are listed below.

BWL Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Birch Wathen Lenox provides a rigorous, traditional education enhanced by its commitment to excellence and merit, and to celebrating all students. The school is founded on respect, integrity, loyalty, civility, and empathy, emphasizing what unites rather than divides us. By fostering a sense of belonging and mutual understanding, we aim to create an inclusive environment for all students. Our approach to this work is underpinned by our pillar of Constructive Dialogue and is emphasized by our commitment to the importance of diversity of thought and freedom of expression.

Through our signature K–12 Constructive Dialogue Initiative, we believe that listening to one another and hearing and understanding diverse perspectives enriches our educational experience and helps students develop critical thinking skills, empathy, and the ability to communicate effectively.  BWL is guided by the Chicago Statement (Principles of Free Expression) and places a strong emphasis on inquiry and debate. This allows students of all ages to participate in age-appropriate constructive, thoughtful, and challenging dialogue, furthering our long-term commitment to the aforementioned values. 

At Birch Wathen Lenox, we celebrate and value the richness of world cultures, while grounding our curriculum in principles such as tolerance, rational inquiry, and free expression, ensuring that these values belong to all students, regardless of their identity or background. Instead of focusing on division and highlighting identity-based separation, our approach is an action-based, passionate commitment to creating a school environment where every student can thrive and feel valued. 

Together, we build a community that celebrates the rich diversity of human experience and prepares our students to be thoughtful, respectful, and engaged citizens of the world. Together, our values of unity, diversity of thought, and freedom of expression create an environment where students feel a sense of belonging while having the ability to hear diverse perspectives and learn to articulate their own. The following five values construct our approach to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

• Excellence and Merit: BWL sets high expectations for all of our students. Our culture of merit and excellence is accompanied by a responsive and encouraging environment, where students feel confident taking risks and learning from failures. Through our advisory and counseling programs, we also ensure that merit-based recognition does not foster unhealthy competition and unnecessarily impede inclusivity.
   
• Shared Principles and Unity: Our school community is built on a foundation of shared principles of respect, integrity, loyalty, civility, and empathy. We focus on our commonalities rather than our differences, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual understanding among all students that, in turn, facilitates respectful and intellectually stimulating conversations leading to deeper learning.
   
• Constructive Dialogue, Diversity of Thought, and Free Expression: We believe that constructive dialogue, diversity of thought, and free expression are essential for exceptional learning, empathy, and communication. Hearing and understanding diverse perspectives enriches our educational experience and helps students develop critical thinking skills, empathy, and the ability to communicate effectively. BWL’s goal is always to teach our students how to think, not what to think.
   
• Inclusive Curriculum Grounded in Egalitarian Values: Our curriculum incorporates the best of global intellectual traditions, ensuring they are relevant and accessible to our students. We provide a comprehensive education that prepares students to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with a diversity of perspectives while maintaining a philosophical perspective grounded in egalitarian values such as equality of opportunity, fairness and free expression. A BWL education requires that students learn to articulate their own opinions intelligently and thoughtfully while respectfully and earnestly listening to the perspectives of others.
   
• Civic-Minded Student Body: To create engaged citizens, we must teach students the importance of citizenship and how to effectively participate in their community, be it their classroom community or the global community. They will be poised to dedicate themselves to civic engagement and public service, and be equipped for active and engaged participation in our diverse democracy.

To this, our community commits itself to:

• Promote Inclusive Practices: We implement inclusive practices in every aspect of school life, from classroom discussions to extracurricular activities. Our teachers will model these behaviors by emphasizing respect, providing equal opportunity, and addressing bias. Teachers are provided professional development in order to eliminate barriers to inclusion, freedom of expression and thought, and healthy conflict. This ensures that every student feels heard, valued, and respected.
   
• High Expectations Alongside Equal Opportunity: Our students are expected to meet high academic standards in line with the esteemed tradition of our school. We cultivate an environment where every student can thrive, recognizing and respecting their individual learning styles. Each student is encouraged to excel in our most rigorous courses, ensuring opportunities for success at the highest academic echelons.
   
• Follow the Science: We are committed to continuous improvement and regularly evaluate our inclusion and belonging efforts to ensure they are effective and aligned with our core principles. We will use evidence-based, data-driven programming that has demonstrative success. We will seek to ensure that our resources and efforts are put into practices proven to be effective in contributing to – and not detracting from – the positive mental well-being and success of our students
   
• Encourage Free Expression: Through our Constructive Dialogue Initiative and the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Freedom, we foster an environment where students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas. We create spaces for open dialogue, where perspectives can be shared and respectfully debated, enhancing learning and empathy as part of our commitment to rigor.
   
• Engage with the Community: We actively engage with families, alumni, and the broader community to promote understanding and collaboration for our inclusion and belonging initiatives. A collaborative approach enhances our efforts and enriches our school environment. Encouraging students, families, and faculty to build bridges across identities and groups is crucial to fostering deeper understanding and narrowing gaps between members of our community.

Together, we grow stronger and more connected as individuals, a school, and a community.

Initiatives integral to our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Constructive Dialogue

BWL is committed to helping our students develop the critical skills necessary to participate in constructive, thoughtful, and challenging dialogue through our Constructive Dialogue Initiative. It's one of our school's four pillars and a crucial element in our DEIB efforts. Click here to read more about Constructive Dialogue at BWL.

Student Diversity Forum

The Student Diversity Forum is a gathering place for Upper School students of color and their allies. Students use this space to examine topics of their choosing, with the help of their faculty advisor. Upper School students have several additional affinity groups including the Women’s Club, and SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Acceptance). The annual Diversity Film Forum provides students with an opportunity to select films related to topics of equity and social justice, for viewing and discussion by their peers.

The Diversity Awareness Initiative for Students

Many BWL students in grades 8–12 take part in DAIS. This is an organization dedicated to respect and celebration of different cultures. Students involved in DAIS plan and facilitate all of their own activities, providing leadership roles for those interested. BWL proudly hosts two DAIS meetings per year on-site as part of the rotation of meetings taking place at independent schools throughout the city.

CAFE: Cultural Awareness For Everyone

CAFE (Cultural Awareness For Everyone) provides a forum for parents to discuss issues related to equity and inclusion. It meets several times per year and addresses topics generated by its members. Guest speakers are also often brought into the conversation, and CAFE members and speakers serve as resources to support all BWL parents and their children.