Equity & Community Belonging

AIM has always celebrated differences and was founded on the principles of shedding labels and breaking down artificial barriers. At our core, we are dedicated to building and sustaining equity by actively embracing diversity in our community. Our approach to the critical work of equity and inclusion is driven by our values of respect, unity, and empathy. We recognize, reflect upon, and are meaningfully informed by the plurality of experiences that each student, family, and staff/faculty member brings to our community. We embrace all forms of identity including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and class, faith and belief, age, ability, learning differences, and the broad range of human experiences and perspectives.

Our strength is in our ability to engage in open dialogue, question, examine assumptions, collaborate, embrace challenges, attune to all voices, and seek to understand one another. We are regularly working to increase the cultural responsiveness of our curriculum, professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, and thoughtful community programming. We recognize that a commitment to equity and diversity requires attention across all layers of the institution in order to assure that our values are reflected in every aspect of our community. We are a community where everyone’s differences are acknowledged, respected, and celebrated so that all members are safe being themselves and all voices are sought and heard. This strategic and research-driven focus on equity and inclusion is essential for AIM to fully realize its mission to provide extraordinary educational opportunities.

• Lower School integrates a calendar applying different lenses and themes on diversity each month
• Middle and Upper School curriculums are designed to interrogate key themes and develop enduring understandings including:

1. Questioning culture and cultivating personal ethics, equality vs. equity, self-advocacy, finding one’s voice, and building relationships.

   • Enduring Understanding: Explore how social norms and values are shaped by society and

     culture, how context creates meaning, and how personal identity is shaped through

     relationships with others.

2. Causes and manifestations of adversity, crossroads, and navigating change

   through relationships.

   Enduring Understandings: Explore how human beings are profoundly interconnected

   and how community is created through individual and collective choices and actions.

• All texts are thoughtfully chosen with focus on exploring diverse populations such as Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani, Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

AIM offers multiple spaces and opportunities for both students and parents to connect through Affinity Groups and Clubs.

Affinity Groups are for people of a shared identity to gather for:

• Support
• Empowerment
• Allyship
• Fun

Current Affinity Groups include:

• Adoptee - Upper School
• Black Student Union (BSU) - Middle and Upper School
• Christian Faith - Upper School
• Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) - Middle and Upper School
• Jewish Students - Upper School

Students interested in creating an affinity group should visit or email Mrs. McCook in Room 231 or at lmccook@aimpa.org.

AIM also provides a group of students, faculty, and administrators the opportunity to attend the annual NAIS People of Color Conference and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference.

• Student Diversity Leadership Club
• Student-led Affinity Groups
• Domestic and International Service Projects each year across all school divisions (e.g. World Bicycle Relief, Liter of Light, Service Trips to Costa Rica, Belize, Dominican Republic, Schuylkill Center Trail Maintenance, Eye to Eye)
• Senior year global study and travel (e.g. Spain, Eastern Europe, Greece, Germany)
• Global and Equity & Justice Scholars Program for Upper School students

Each year faculty and staff have multiple opportunities to engage in professional development to enhance their professional and personal growth. A few of the opportunities they have had to engage in development related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are:

• NAIS People of Color Conference
• Roots to Roots
• Cheryl Irving Cultural Competency Institute
• Internal professional development at the whole school, division, and department levels

• Families of Students of Color Parent/Caregiver Affinity Group. (Contact AIMFSC@aimpa.org for more info)
• Teaching and Talking to Children: Parent and caregiver series including opportunities to learn from experts on a variety of topics.
• Coffees

Go To AIM Parent Community