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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.
Important Dates:
| June 16, 2025 | Youth Equity Congress Meeting |
| June 19, 2025 | Juneteenth/No School |
| June 24, 2025 | 8th Grade Graduation |
| June 25, 2025 | 8th GradeTrip |
| June 26, 2025 | Last Day of School |
Celebrating Diversity
April 2025
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.
This month, the Student DEI team collaborated with the GSA to decorate shirts that were then sold to support Gracie’s House. This organization works to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ children in rural areas where resources may be limited.
For more information on how your child can join the student diversity, equity, and Inclusion team, speak to Mr Pang in room 311.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Team Updates
The New Voices DEI team has continued to work with and support teachers in infusing DEI into their curriculums. Working with the District Equity Congress, we identified this Problem of Practice and worked on an action plan to put in place in order to support teachers as they update and create curriculum.
Community Building
Bringing together Alumni, Current Students, Family and Staff
High School Alumni Meet-Ups
On June 18th, the New Voices DEI Team hosted a High School Meet & Greet. New Voices Alumni and other high school students met with current 8th graders for a casual chat about their high schools over pizza. New Voices students were able to get some inside information on their future schools while spending time with other classmates who are attending the same school. This community building event was a great success. High schools represented were Art & Design, Beacon, Brooklyn Collaborative Studies, Brooklyn High School of the Arts, Brooklyn Tech, Essex Street Academy, FDR, LaGuardia, New Utrecht, NYC iSchool, Midwood, Millennium Brooklyn, Murrow, NEST+m, and Stuyvesant
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.
In June, the GSA welcomed Joanna McClintick, author of ‘The ‘Twas the Night Before Pride, a children’s book that focuses on the history of Pride and its current celebration. Sponsored by Lambda Literary, this visit focused not just on the book but also the process of writing and publishing a book. The students learned a lot about both history and publishing and were eager to share their own knowledge of queer history and resistance. We hope to have Joanna back next year to learn more about poetry.
In May and June, bake-sales and hand decorated T-shirt sales raised over $1000 for Grace’s House, an LGBTQ+ organization that makes safe spaces for kids in rural areas. They are holding their first camp this summer, and we raised enough to sponsor a camper. This was our second year supporting Gracie’s House, and our donation far exceeded last year’s donation. Gracie’s House was founded by author A.S. King in honor of her daughter Gracie.
