DEIJB - Friends School of Wilmington - Quaker School-8th Grade Independent School in Wilmington, NC
Source: https://www.fsow.org/about/deijb
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:17
DEIJB - Friends School of Wilmington - Quaker School-8th Grade Independent School in Wilmington, NC
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DEIJB
You belong.
Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Justice. Belonging. Our ongoing work here at FSW is to build a transformative community of dynamic learners who are guided by unwavering empathy, cultural competency, and social awareness. We prepare students to navigate an increasingly networked global society, challenge systemic biases, and contribute to a more just and inclusive world.
We are deeply driven by our Quaker origins—a history shaped by profound commitments to the abolition of slavery, suffragette voting rights, the Civil Rights movement, LGBTQ+ equality, and Indigenous land reconciliation. We not only recall the historical and ongoing work of Friends but also continue to examine myriad ways in which we can build upon our own campus values. These efforts are reflected in and by our school-wide programming, faculty/staff professional development, family workshops, donor and endowment support, cross-cultural community events, and organizational partnerships.
School-Wide Programming
Professional Development
Financial Support
Our commitment to DEIJB is ongoing, evolving, and responsive to our community's needs. We provide students with an age-appropriate toolbox of lessons and resources to be culturally competent and globally aware world citizens. We uplift and celebrate monthly heritage calendars, like Black History Month, Women's History Month, and Asian-American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, as well as annual community events, such as Night of Peace, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, and Family Pride Festival.
Our faculty and staff regularly complete curricular training and professional development seminars from organizations like Southern Poverty Law Center's Learning for Justice, Pollyanna, and Diversity Resources, as well as from our institutional bodies like Friends Council on Education, National Association of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, and North Carolina Association of Independent Schools. Families are invited throughout the academic year to participate in informational panels and interactive workshops, like last year's sessions on supporting neurodiversity in the classroom and incorporating dialogue circles towards peaceful conflict resolution.
Financial support ensures that our DEIJB efforts are sustainable, reaching a broader range of individuals and communities and helping to address systemic barriers that may hinder equal opportunities. For example, the
Esch Endowment for DEIJB
guarantees funds for faculty training, parent workshops, speaker series, merit- and need-based family scholarships, and experiential learning opportunities. Similarly, generously funded competitive scholarship opportunities like the
Blackbird Fund
cover full tuition for students or families who identify as LGBTQIA+.
What does MLK Day look like at FSW?
When and where does the program take place?
What happens after the program?
Where should I park?
At Friends School of Wilmington, MLK Day is an intentional and meaningful part of our calendar. While our physical campus is closed, this day is far from a traditional "day off." Instead, it serves as an official school day dedicated to celebrating the life, legacy, and values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Students, along with their families, gather at a designated location for a commemorative program featuring storytelling, art, music, and spoken word. Through student-led performances, we reflect on Dr. King’s teachings of equality, justice, and peace, fostering a deeper understanding of his impact and how we can carry his mission forward.
Our MLK Day Program will be held on
Monday, January 19th, from 9:15–10:15 AM
at the
Brooklyn Arts Center (516 N 4th Street).
Please plan to arrive no later than 9:00 so classes have time to settle in before the program begins.
Students from Preschool through 8th grade will perform songs, poems, and spoken essays honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Please note: Campus will be closed on this day. Parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from the Brooklyn Arts Center. Upon arrival, students will join their teacher/advisor and classmates. At the conclusion of the program, students will reunite with their families in the audience before heading to the CFCC parking lot for the Parade starting at 11:00am
FSW is proud to participate in the SENC MLK Day Parade starting at 11am.
https://mlkjrcelebration.com/events-schedule
We have been graciously granted access to the
First Baptist Missionary Church parking lot at 520 N 5th Avenue
, just one block from the Brooklyn Arts Center and five blocks from the Convention Center. The lot can accommodate approximately 60 cars. Ample street parking will also be available nearby.
Skip To Main Content
DEIJB
You belong.
Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. Justice. Belonging. Our ongoing work here at FSW is to build a transformative community of dynamic learners who are guided by unwavering empathy, cultural competency, and social awareness. We prepare students to navigate an increasingly networked global society, challenge systemic biases, and contribute to a more just and inclusive world.
We are deeply driven by our Quaker origins—a history shaped by profound commitments to the abolition of slavery, suffragette voting rights, the Civil Rights movement, LGBTQ+ equality, and Indigenous land reconciliation. We not only recall the historical and ongoing work of Friends but also continue to examine myriad ways in which we can build upon our own campus values. These efforts are reflected in and by our school-wide programming, faculty/staff professional development, family workshops, donor and endowment support, cross-cultural community events, and organizational partnerships.
School-Wide Programming
Professional Development
Financial Support
Our commitment to DEIJB is ongoing, evolving, and responsive to our community's needs. We provide students with an age-appropriate toolbox of lessons and resources to be culturally competent and globally aware world citizens. We uplift and celebrate monthly heritage calendars, like Black History Month, Women's History Month, and Asian-American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, as well as annual community events, such as Night of Peace, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, and Family Pride Festival.
Our faculty and staff regularly complete curricular training and professional development seminars from organizations like Southern Poverty Law Center's Learning for Justice, Pollyanna, and Diversity Resources, as well as from our institutional bodies like Friends Council on Education, National Association of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, and North Carolina Association of Independent Schools. Families are invited throughout the academic year to participate in informational panels and interactive workshops, like last year's sessions on supporting neurodiversity in the classroom and incorporating dialogue circles towards peaceful conflict resolution.
Financial support ensures that our DEIJB efforts are sustainable, reaching a broader range of individuals and communities and helping to address systemic barriers that may hinder equal opportunities. For example, the
Esch Endowment for DEIJB
guarantees funds for faculty training, parent workshops, speaker series, merit- and need-based family scholarships, and experiential learning opportunities. Similarly, generously funded competitive scholarship opportunities like the
Blackbird Fund
cover full tuition for students or families who identify as LGBTQIA+.
What does MLK Day look like at FSW?
When and where does the program take place?
What happens after the program?
Where should I park?
At Friends School of Wilmington, MLK Day is an intentional and meaningful part of our calendar. While our physical campus is closed, this day is far from a traditional "day off." Instead, it serves as an official school day dedicated to celebrating the life, legacy, and values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Students, along with their families, gather at a designated location for a commemorative program featuring storytelling, art, music, and spoken word. Through student-led performances, we reflect on Dr. King’s teachings of equality, justice, and peace, fostering a deeper understanding of his impact and how we can carry his mission forward.
Our MLK Day Program will be held on
Monday, January 19th, from 9:15–10:15 AM
at the
Brooklyn Arts Center (516 N 4th Street).
Please plan to arrive no later than 9:00 so classes have time to settle in before the program begins.
Students from Preschool through 8th grade will perform songs, poems, and spoken essays honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Please note: Campus will be closed on this day. Parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from the Brooklyn Arts Center. Upon arrival, students will join their teacher/advisor and classmates. At the conclusion of the program, students will reunite with their families in the audience before heading to the CFCC parking lot for the Parade starting at 11:00am
FSW is proud to participate in the SENC MLK Day Parade starting at 11am.
https://mlkjrcelebration.com/events-schedule
We have been graciously granted access to the
First Baptist Missionary Church parking lot at 520 N 5th Avenue
, just one block from the Brooklyn Arts Center and five blocks from the Convention Center. The lot can accommodate approximately 60 cars. Ample street parking will also be available nearby.