Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

People Rising in Support of Multiculturalism (PRISM)

Members of PRISM, a popular student organization, seek to break down social boundaries by creating a familial environment for interaction among people of different cultures in a comfortable space. Together, members explore social issues, investigate resources and opportunities, and discuss ways to better educate themselves and to share their experiences.
 

Spectrum

Loomis Chaffee's Gender-Sexuality Alliance, Spectrum is committed to making the Island a safer place for people of all genders and sexual and romantic orientations. Spectrum represents LGBTQIA+ students of all backgrounds everywhere on campus. Spectrum focuses on supporting LGBTQIA+ members of our community in addition to facilitating educational discussions and workshops to help allies and allies-to-be understand LGBTQIA+ issues. Spectrum works closely with faculty, student organizations, and other schools in the New England area to create exciting celebrations throughout the school year, including dances, movie nights, and discussions.
 

Jewish Student Union (JSU)

The Jewish Student Union helps foster the Jewish community on the Island through social connection and the sharing of faith traditions in a welcoming environment. JSU helps educate the Loomis community on Jewish traditions, heritage, and culture.
 

LC Christian Fellowship

The LC Christian Fellowship provides opportunities to openly discuss and explore one’s faith with Christians of all denominations in a welcoming environment.
 

International Student Ambassadors

The International Student Ambassador program provides avenues for student leadership on campus. International students provide support to others from similar backgrounds to help ease the transition to life at Loomis. They assist with orientation and play an integral role in international events on campus.
 

Muslim Student Union (MSU)

The Muslim Student Union provides a space for all students who identify as Muslim to come together and discuss current issues, celebrate major holidays, and learn about their faith. In addition, MSU members organize awareness events in order to educate their peers about the diversity of Islamic practices and Muslim cultures.

Sister Circle

An affinity group for students who identify as Black females
 

Brothers in Unity

An affinity group for students who identify as Black males
 

Pa’lante

An affinity group for students who identify as Latino/a/x
 

PASA (Pan Asian Student Alliance)

Both an alliance and an affinity group for students who identify as Asian
 

South East Asians at Loomis (SEAL)

An affinity group for students who identify as Southeast Asian
 

MultiX

An affinity group for students who identify as multiracial
 

Arab/Middle Eastern Society

An affinity group for students who identify as Middle Eastern and/or Arabic
 

Young Women’s Affinity Group

An affinity group for students who identify as female
 

Brave Space

Both an alliance and an affinity group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, genderqueer, queer, intersexed, agender, and asexual students (LGBTQIA+) and their allies

The Pelican Support Network (PSN) provides cultural, social, and academic support to underrepresented students in their transition to high school and throughout their experience at Loomis. Students get together for academic study halls, roundtable lunches, alumni panels, and other academic and social activities with the goal of supporting peers and enhancing their experience at Loomis and beyond.

The PSN is a joint program run by the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; the College Office; the Dean of Students Office; and the Office of Admission.

The internship is a yearlong leadership position for students who are highly interested in student-facing programming tied to the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Interns assist with calendar scheduling, update the bulletin board, help with advertising events, collaborate with affinity groups, and contribute to social media, including DEI/PRISM Facebook, blog, and Instagram posts.

CAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference

The Connecticut Association of Independent School’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference mission “is to bring students from grades 7–12 and adults from independent schools across the state together for a day of networking and dialog, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and a call to action to improve our school communities and our world.”
 

NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) “is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of upper school student leaders (grades 9–12) from across the U.S. and abroad. SDLC focuses on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community. Led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators, 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.”
 

Hot Topics Discussions

Student-led Hot Topic Discussions provide an opportunity for thoughtful reflection and communication regarding current issues of local, national, and worldwide concern. A respectful dialog is organized in a safe environment for students to share their opinions with a goal of inspiring positive change.
 

Cultural Outburst

Each spring, the Loomis community comes together for this fun and festive event celebrating and sharing our cultural diversity. Highlighting the numerous nationalities and ethnicities represented on campus, students, faculty, staff, and parents organize interactive exhibits that feature food, music, visual arts, and other cultural activities for all to share and learn.
 

Black Alumni Mentoring Program

In 2020, Loomis Chaffee launched the Black Alumni Mentoring Program. The idea for the program came from a group of Black alumni who expressed a strong desire to guide and support the school’s current Black students. The program supplements the school’s advising system; student participation is voluntary.
 

SPHERE

SPHERE is a consortium of independent schools from Greater Hartford that came together in the early 1970s because of a common commitment to diversity. SPHERE’s mission is to help the member schools to collaborate in becoming and remaining culturally diverse, inclusive, and responsive environments for teaching and learning.

www.sphereschools.org

Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity (SEED)

The SEED program invites the engagement of head, heart, and soul. Seminar participants examine inner and outer ways in which systems affect lives inside and outside of school. SEED work develops ways of understanding complex relationships between self and system with regard to race, class, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability/disability, and cultural experience. Everyone becomes engaged in diversity work in both familiar and unfamiliar ways.
 

SPHERE

SPHERE is a consortium of independent schools from Greater Hartford that came together in the early 1970s because of a common commitment to diversity. SPHERE’s mission is to help the member schools to collaborate in becoming and remaining culturally diverse, inclusive, and responsive environments for teaching and learning.

www.sphereschools.org
 

CAIS Commission of Diversity in Independent Schools

The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Commission on Diversity in Independent Schools exists to inspire a wide spectrum of individuals in the effort to make our school communities rich in the experience of human differences. The commission provides an educators' network focused on diversity as well as training and resources for diversity advocates at CAIS member schools. It also provides ongoing support for trustees, administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, and other CAIS commissions.

www.caisct.org
 

NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC)

The NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) provides “a safe space for leadership, professional development, and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. With seminars, a master class, and more than 100 workshops on diverse topics relevant to people of color in independent schools, PoCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees with new skills. You’ll leave with knowledge and experiences to improve the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in your school, which will have a positive impact on the academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike.”
 

Black Affinity Group (BAG)

An affinity group for faculty and staff who identify as Black
 

BARWE (Becoming Anti-Racist White Educators)

An affinity group for faculty who identity as White
 

LC Women’s Group

An affinity group for faculty and staff who identify as women