Diversity & Inclusion at Oakwood School in North Hollywood
Source: http://www.oakwoodschool.org/belonging
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Diversity & Inclusion at Oakwood School in North Hollywood
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Belonging
Oakwood strives to build a learning environment with our core values of community engagement and belonging at the center.
We believe anti-bias, belonging, community engagement and institutional equity frameworks are essential to our academic program because they create opportunities for critical thinking, social/emotional skill acquisition, self-expression and design thinking. Oakwood views anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity practices as a foundational component of our educational program and grounded in our school's statement of philosophy:
from Oakwood's Statement of Philosophy
“We intend an Oakwood education to foster a sense of community. We seek to create a vibrant public life in the school, where students learn to express themselves fluently and responsibly and to consider differing perspectives respectfully. We believe that an environment most conducive to learning and growth is diverse and inclusive.”
Oakwood School pledges our pursuit of excellence by intentionally fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.
List of 6 items.
With purpose, Oakwood celebrates and affirms diversity,
of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, faith, family structure, socioeconomic background, age, and ability.
We also recognize the continued need for growth as an institution,
so that Oakwood—its board, faculty, staff, administration, student body, and families—may better represent the diversity of Los Angeles while better supporting equitable and inclusive practices and policies for all.
This ongoing commitment includes denouncing all forms of White supremacy,
systemic racism, patriarchal oppression, and class discrimination while empowering our community to do the same.
We uphold the importance of intersectionality in our approach,
and we hold space for prioritizing pressing and timely issues so we can engage with an ever-changing world.
Within this questioning and consideration of school and society,
we acknowledge temporary discomfort as a possible reaction, and endorse the examination of our interpersonal and internalized biases as its most effective cure.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to creating an educational experience,
within a school community and learning environment that balances the intellectual, emotional, and social growth of children, allowing us all to learn how to honor the dignity and experience of every human being.
Ratified by the Oakwood School Board of Trustees on March 3, 2021
WAYS TO ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY:
List of 7 items.
Student Affinity & Alliance Groups
Affinity Groups
provide a space for people who have an identifier in common (e.g. race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, family status, etc.) and can speak to the experience of being a member of a group from the “I” perspective.
Current student affinity groups at the secondary campus are:
Adopted Affinity Group
RepresentAsian (Asian American Pacific Islander Affinity Group)
BMORE (Black/Brown Men at Oakwood Representing Excellence)
CAAMASO (Connecting African, African American, and Multiracial African American Students at Oakwood)
DIVAS (Daughters for Inclusive Values and Social Justice) of Color
Jewish Affinity Group
Middle Eastern Affinity Group
Multiracial Affinity Group
Somos Unidos (Latinx/a/o Affinity Group)
caSa: cultural awareness & Solidarity alliance
The student leaders of the High School Affinity & Alliance Groups meet with the Assistant Head of School for Community Engagement and Belonging every two weeks to remain informed on anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity work at Oakwood, learn about topics of importance to Oakwood’s belonging and community engagement journey, plan events and programs, affirm identity, and cultivate solidarity across differences and build justice-minded solutions to issues.
Alliance Groups
bring together people who have common commitments to an identifier group and are for individuals who identify as members of the group and/or as people who support and stand in solidarity with that group. This category includes groups such as:
The Rainbow Alliance (Elementary & Secondary Campuses)
Gender Equality Club at Oakwood
White Anti-Racist Student Group (Elementary & Secondary Campuses)
Family Affinity Gatherings
Affinity Gatherings
take the affinity group from just being about the student to
including the entire family
. By bringing together families who have an identifier in common, e.g. race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, family status, etc., it allows for families to connect with each other, and other faculty, staff, and administrators in a more relaxed and celebratory way. These events are held annually and include:
APISA+ Affinity Family Gathering
CAAMASO Affinity Family Gathering
G.U.M. (Growing Up Mixed) Family Gathering
Jewish Affinity Family Gathering
LGBTQ+ Family Gathering
Neurodiversity Affinity Family Gathering
Somos Unidos Affinity Family Gathering
White-Antiracist Gathering
Voices Envisioned
Voices Envisioned is a series of events for the entire Oakwood community to explore important issues related to anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity. Sponsored by the CEB Office and Parent & Guardian Organization DEIB Committee, it has featured presentations and appearances by the world's most prominent authors, artists, activists, and educators.
Click here to learn more about this year's Voices Envisioned speaker series.
CEB Learning for Parents & Guardians
Oakwood parents and guardians have a multitude of opportunities to engage in conversations, discourse, and learning on anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity. In addition to Oakwood’s long-standing Voices Envisioned speaker series, other parent education opportunities include workshops with guest specialists and leading educators, and the facilitated White Anti-Racist Parent/Guardian Group.
IDEAS Summit
IDEAS
is an acronym for identity, diversity, equity, and action in solidarity.
Throughout the school year, our community engages in learning and work that affirms identity, acknowledges systemic inequities, and pursues justice. Students and educators learn through coursework, workshops, conferences, immersion, training, and more.
Student-initiated events such as this were first launched in 2006 as “Diversity Day”, which grew into an annual Diversity Week, when the entire school community focuses on critical explorations of difference, equity, justice, and positive identity development.
NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference
This is an annual gathering of independent school student leaders (9-12) from around the country that focuses on the development of self-identity and the search for community spirit and understanding. Each year a delegation of Oakwood students attends SDLC to foster and support emerging student leadership. Students return from the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference with a broadened perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Oakwood, as well as common language, to identify and articulate these issues. Students also gain greater self-awareness, stronger leadership skills, and renewed conviction about the productive and valuable role they can play in helping Oakwood continue to become a more equitable school.
NAIS People of Color Conference (POCC)
The purpose of the NAIS People of Color Conference is to provide a safe space for networking, collaboration, learning, and development for people of color and allies working in independent schools. For decades, PoCC has nourished and sustained people of color in independent schools. In essence, it is an international affinity group space, one that gives voice to, protects, affirms, and dignifies the unique experiences of people of color in our schools and society at large. It is a space to learn and a space to heal. It is a space to convene, and a space to share with people who understand. We are proud to say that 2024 marks Oakwood’s 36th year participating in PoCC and our 30th at SDLC.
Questions? Contact the Office of Community Engagement & Belonging at
oceb@oakwoodschool.org
.
learning in action
Books, Culture & Community
Finding a Haven at Rockhaven
Students Lead Toward Gender Justice
Secondary Campus
11600 Magnolia Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601-3015
818-732-3000
Elementary Campus
11230 Moorpark Street
North Hollywood, CA 91602-2602
818-732-3500
Connect
Get Social
Instagram
Facebook
Login
Admission
arrow
Welcome to Oakwood
Why Oakwood?
Visiting Oakwood
The Admission Process
Tuition & Financial Assistance
FAQ
Transportation
Connect with a Parent/Guardian
About
arrow
Statement of Philosophy
School Leadership
Parents & Guardians
History
Careers
Academics
arrow
An Oakwood Education
Elementary Campus
Middle School
High School
Experiential Learning
STEAM
College Counseling
Student Support
Arts
arrow
Creatively Oakwood
Elementary Campus Arts
Secondary Campus Arts
Athletics
arrow
Go Owls
Elementary Campus Athletics
Secondary Campus Athletics
Hall of Fame
Owls in College
Calendar
Student Life
arrow
Experience Oakwood
The Oakwood Graduate
Oakwood Stories
Summer Program
Belonging
arrow
Community Engagement
Giving
arrow
Advancement Office
Oakwood Live
Annual Fund
Ways to Give
Matching Gifts
Endowments
Annual Report
Emergency Financial Assistance Fund
Parents & Guardians
Alumni
Calendar
Summer Program
Login
Inquire
Apply
Belonging
Oakwood strives to build a learning environment with our core values of community engagement and belonging at the center.
We believe anti-bias, belonging, community engagement and institutional equity frameworks are essential to our academic program because they create opportunities for critical thinking, social/emotional skill acquisition, self-expression and design thinking. Oakwood views anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity practices as a foundational component of our educational program and grounded in our school's statement of philosophy:
from Oakwood's Statement of Philosophy
“We intend an Oakwood education to foster a sense of community. We seek to create a vibrant public life in the school, where students learn to express themselves fluently and responsibly and to consider differing perspectives respectfully. We believe that an environment most conducive to learning and growth is diverse and inclusive.”
Oakwood School pledges our pursuit of excellence by intentionally fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.
List of 6 items.
With purpose, Oakwood celebrates and affirms diversity,
of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, faith, family structure, socioeconomic background, age, and ability.
We also recognize the continued need for growth as an institution,
so that Oakwood—its board, faculty, staff, administration, student body, and families—may better represent the diversity of Los Angeles while better supporting equitable and inclusive practices and policies for all.
This ongoing commitment includes denouncing all forms of White supremacy,
systemic racism, patriarchal oppression, and class discrimination while empowering our community to do the same.
We uphold the importance of intersectionality in our approach,
and we hold space for prioritizing pressing and timely issues so we can engage with an ever-changing world.
Within this questioning and consideration of school and society,
we acknowledge temporary discomfort as a possible reaction, and endorse the examination of our interpersonal and internalized biases as its most effective cure.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to creating an educational experience,
within a school community and learning environment that balances the intellectual, emotional, and social growth of children, allowing us all to learn how to honor the dignity and experience of every human being.
Ratified by the Oakwood School Board of Trustees on March 3, 2021
WAYS TO ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY:
List of 7 items.
Student Affinity & Alliance Groups
Affinity Groups
provide a space for people who have an identifier in common (e.g. race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, family status, etc.) and can speak to the experience of being a member of a group from the “I” perspective.
Current student affinity groups at the secondary campus are:
Adopted Affinity Group
RepresentAsian (Asian American Pacific Islander Affinity Group)
BMORE (Black/Brown Men at Oakwood Representing Excellence)
CAAMASO (Connecting African, African American, and Multiracial African American Students at Oakwood)
DIVAS (Daughters for Inclusive Values and Social Justice) of Color
Jewish Affinity Group
Middle Eastern Affinity Group
Multiracial Affinity Group
Somos Unidos (Latinx/a/o Affinity Group)
caSa: cultural awareness & Solidarity alliance
The student leaders of the High School Affinity & Alliance Groups meet with the Assistant Head of School for Community Engagement and Belonging every two weeks to remain informed on anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity work at Oakwood, learn about topics of importance to Oakwood’s belonging and community engagement journey, plan events and programs, affirm identity, and cultivate solidarity across differences and build justice-minded solutions to issues.
Alliance Groups
bring together people who have common commitments to an identifier group and are for individuals who identify as members of the group and/or as people who support and stand in solidarity with that group. This category includes groups such as:
The Rainbow Alliance (Elementary & Secondary Campuses)
Gender Equality Club at Oakwood
White Anti-Racist Student Group (Elementary & Secondary Campuses)
Family Affinity Gatherings
Affinity Gatherings
take the affinity group from just being about the student to
including the entire family
. By bringing together families who have an identifier in common, e.g. race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, family status, etc., it allows for families to connect with each other, and other faculty, staff, and administrators in a more relaxed and celebratory way. These events are held annually and include:
APISA+ Affinity Family Gathering
CAAMASO Affinity Family Gathering
G.U.M. (Growing Up Mixed) Family Gathering
Jewish Affinity Family Gathering
LGBTQ+ Family Gathering
Neurodiversity Affinity Family Gathering
Somos Unidos Affinity Family Gathering
White-Antiracist Gathering
Voices Envisioned
Voices Envisioned is a series of events for the entire Oakwood community to explore important issues related to anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity. Sponsored by the CEB Office and Parent & Guardian Organization DEIB Committee, it has featured presentations and appearances by the world's most prominent authors, artists, activists, and educators.
Click here to learn more about this year's Voices Envisioned speaker series.
CEB Learning for Parents & Guardians
Oakwood parents and guardians have a multitude of opportunities to engage in conversations, discourse, and learning on anti-bias, belonging, community engagement, and institutional equity. In addition to Oakwood’s long-standing Voices Envisioned speaker series, other parent education opportunities include workshops with guest specialists and leading educators, and the facilitated White Anti-Racist Parent/Guardian Group.
IDEAS Summit
IDEAS
is an acronym for identity, diversity, equity, and action in solidarity.
Throughout the school year, our community engages in learning and work that affirms identity, acknowledges systemic inequities, and pursues justice. Students and educators learn through coursework, workshops, conferences, immersion, training, and more.
Student-initiated events such as this were first launched in 2006 as “Diversity Day”, which grew into an annual Diversity Week, when the entire school community focuses on critical explorations of difference, equity, justice, and positive identity development.
NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference
This is an annual gathering of independent school student leaders (9-12) from around the country that focuses on the development of self-identity and the search for community spirit and understanding. Each year a delegation of Oakwood students attends SDLC to foster and support emerging student leadership. Students return from the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference with a broadened perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Oakwood, as well as common language, to identify and articulate these issues. Students also gain greater self-awareness, stronger leadership skills, and renewed conviction about the productive and valuable role they can play in helping Oakwood continue to become a more equitable school.
NAIS People of Color Conference (POCC)
The purpose of the NAIS People of Color Conference is to provide a safe space for networking, collaboration, learning, and development for people of color and allies working in independent schools. For decades, PoCC has nourished and sustained people of color in independent schools. In essence, it is an international affinity group space, one that gives voice to, protects, affirms, and dignifies the unique experiences of people of color in our schools and society at large. It is a space to learn and a space to heal. It is a space to convene, and a space to share with people who understand. We are proud to say that 2024 marks Oakwood’s 36th year participating in PoCC and our 30th at SDLC.
Questions? Contact the Office of Community Engagement & Belonging at
oceb@oakwoodschool.org
.
learning in action
Books, Culture & Community
Finding a Haven at Rockhaven
Students Lead Toward Gender Justice
Secondary Campus
11600 Magnolia Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601-3015
818-732-3000
Elementary Campus
11230 Moorpark Street
North Hollywood, CA 91602-2602
818-732-3500
Connect
Get Social