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The New Voices Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Team aims to create a school culture that promotes an inclusive, diverse, and equitable learning environment where all students feel that they belong and that their experiences and perspectives matter.
We aim to cultivate and integrate our students’ diverse identities into every area of our school culture, providing them with opportunity for creative expression and student voice.
“When I dare to be powerful– to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
Audre Lorde (1934-1992)
Celebrating Black History
February 2025
In 7th Grade Humanities
After their unit of study on the Abolition movement where we they looked at different methods of resistance used to end enslavement in the United States, students moved into a mini-unit on Systemic Racism and Resistance. Students worked to incorporate the lessons that they learned from specific Abolitionist to how they can create meaningful change towards societal issues happening in our world today.
In the mini-unit, students analyzed how systemic racism creates inequalities in housing, education, wealth, criminal justice and health care systems in the United States. Students read and analyzed Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb,” to inspire their writing for this project. “The Hill We Climb” was read at the 2021 inauguration, it is a poem that is all about uniting our country and having the hope to rise about difficult challenges we are facing. For this project, students wrote their own occasional poem/ speech inspired by issues caused by systemic racism that moves, angers, saddens or inspires them. Their poems reflected on how examples of inequality connect to the larger systems of inequality and injustice discussed in class. Their writing explored their emotions, thoughts, and potential solutions.
Additionally…
In January, classes 703 and 704 visited a historical site from the Underground Railroad as a part of their humanities unit on the abolition movement of the 1800s.
In 7th Grade Science:
Students examined the importance of ethics in science by analyzing the impacts of bias and racism in the fields of medicine and research.
Important Dates:
| March 5, 2025 | New Voices Student DEI Meeting |
| March 11, 2025 | New Voices DEI Meeting |
| March 14, 2025 | New Voices Student DEI Meeting |
| March 26, 2025 | D15 Student Equity Congress |
| March 27, 2025 | D15 Adult Equity Congress |
Student Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Team
Students have the opportunity to participate in furthering the equity work being done at our school and within District 15 by participating in conversations about current events related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, leadership opportunities, as well as help plan community-wide diversity events.
– Mr. Pang, an 8th grade math teacher, is the group advisor.
Our Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team for the 2024-2025 meets twice per month to plan school-wide activities.
The team handed out bracelets with messages of kindness during Respect for All Week. Students were encouraged to trade their bracelets, keeping the kindness moving along throughout the week.
For more information on how your child can join the student diversity, equity, and Inclusion team, speak to Mr Pang in room 311.
Our Student DEI team in action at City Harvest for a service learning trip:
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Team Updates
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Team is a collaboration between parents, teachers and administrators. We meet monthly to discuss, identify and implement change within our school community as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
– If you are interested in joining the New Voices DEI team, please email:
lkraus2@schools.nyc.gov or dpignataro@schools.nyc.gov
As mentioned last month, the New Voices DEI team is deepening our work through our humanities curriculum. By identifying a problem of practice using the 5 Whys protocol, the team narrowed our focus to assisting teachers in creating and using meaningful curriculum the benefits all students.
The team is also sponsoring a Phenomenal Woman Contest for the Month of March, Women’s History Month.
Community Building
Bringing together Alumni, Current Students, Family and Staff
Phenomenal Woman Contest
In preparation for Women’s History Month, We are running our annual Phenomenal Woman Contest! Submissions are due Friday March 7th. For more information see Ms. Deville in room 306!
Keep your eye out for more community building events this spring!
GSA News
The New Voices Gender and Sexuality Alliance has members across all three grades! GSA is a safe space for students to meet, support each other, and talk about school, life, and current events as well as participate in-service learning projects.
This month, the GSA had a guest! Former students and GSA member Madeline Hutchinson, now a high school senior, did an amazing poetry workshop with the students. Madeline focused on innovation in writing, showing two very different types of poems, and then leading the students to write their own. It was an amazing experience for everyone.
In addition, students are continuing to work on their research projects to teach each other, and the school community, about significant people and events in LGBTQ+ history.
Finally, during Respect For All Week, GSA members greeted students and staff at the doors with rainbow bracelets and pronoun stickers for anyone who wished to participate, showing support for the LGBTQ+ members of our community.
The GSA continues to be an integral part of our community, allowing students to socialize across grades, make new friends, and discover new interests in a safe space for all students.