Private School Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Meet our Director

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Jessica Christian leads Brimmer's efforts to ensure that our community honors its diversity and fosters equity, mutual respect, appreciation, and the ability to embrace difference. She organizes events, programs, professional development, and meetings for students, faculty, and families, and facilitates our affinity groups. Ms. Christian is available to meet with members of the Brimmer community that might need individual attention.

Read Jessica Christian's Blog

BRIMMER'S DEIB STRATEGIC PLAN
Our DEIB Strategic Plan was developed by a team of teachers, staff, and administrators during the 2021-2022 academic year. Over the next three years, our divisional and Board-level DEIB Committees will create and implement action steps to make this Plan a reality.

Bully Prevention and Intervention Policy
All members of the community strive to treat each other with respect, and faculty work to prevent bullying and help children feel safe at School.

SEED at Brimmer and May

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SEED at Brimmer and May

Brimmer and May is a proud SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) site. SEED is “a peer-led professional development program that creates conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward greater equity and diversity."
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We have several trained SEED leaders on the Brimmer and May campus who are actively addressing the needs of our community. These needs are directly in line with our DEIB Strategic Plan. Our SEED Seminar is a group of faculty, staff, and administrators who are doing the essential work of making Brimmer a more just and equitable community.

SEED states that “Those who participate in SEED report they are better able to listen to all voices, including their own. They are also able to embrace the challenges and joys of the many kinds of diversity found in their own lives and in the lives of others with more confidence and competence.”

Jessica Christian and Lower School Drama Teacher & Lower School DEIB Facilitator Rachel Wolf Heyman discuss SEED and the impact it has had on the Brimmer community in the Brimmer Magazine.

To learn more about SEED, please visit the SEED website or take a look at SEED’s informational videos.

Recent Communications

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Non-Binary Student Tragedy

On February 8, 2024, 16 year-old Nex Benedict, a non-binary student from Owassa, Oklahoma, died one day after they had an altercation at school in a girls’ bathroom with 3 older students. Although initial reports connected the altercation, which reportedly included Nex’s head being slammed to the ground, to the cause of death, the latest reports suggest that Nex’s death may not have been connected to the fight, which sent Nex to the hospital. Officials are investigating the nature and cause of the altercation.

Though the details of this case are still unfolding, it brings to light the importance of protecting transgender and non-binary youth and affirming their existence. This is particularly topical at Brimmer, as we have taken active steps in recent years to be more gender-inclusive in our practices as a school. These steps have included adjusting the School’s description from “co-ed” to “all-gender,” providing faculty professional development and Board of Trustees training on gender-inclusivity, and affirming all community members’ names and pronouns as they are presented to us by each individual. Though we can always and will do better, we are proud of the work we have done thus far to foster a sense of belonging for students of all genders.

The topic of gender affirmation is highlighted in many of the news stories about Nex’s death in Oklahoma. We are fortunate to live in a state that acknowledges and supports the existence of transgender and non-binary people and affirms the right for each of us to live authentically. Our practices at Brimmer are in line with the guidelines provided by the state of Massachusetts, and we will continue to actively honor the experiences of our trans and non-binary students and community members.

Our hearts break for Nex’s friends and family. Whether or not they were targeted for their gender identity, this story is a reminder of the need for a steadfast commitment to supporting children of all genders. Brimmer has made that commitment.
Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
It was a tough week in the Brimmer community as our faculty, staff, and students tried to process the news of war in the Middle East. We know from history that events like this overseas often increase hateful acts of bigotry here in the United States, including online. Brimmer condemns antisemitism, Islamophobia, and any form of xenophobia. These hateful beliefs can lead to dangerous behaviors that harm and hurt a community, and they go directly against our Core Values.

Our focus at Brimmer in the context of this war is to provide as much fact-based education as we can about the history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and what is currently happening. We have work to do to educate ourselves as well so that we minimize the possibility of misinformation. This is extremely delicate work, and we must do it as thoroughly and thoughtfully as possible. Equally as important is the care we provide for our students, as they are moving through anger, fear, confusion, and a multitude of other feelings.

What we do know is that we will not stand for the mistreatment of any community members based on their religion, the country their family is from, or the political beliefs they or their families hold. This is a community of learning and inclusion. As educators, we help students understand the similarities and differences in their identities and beliefs with a blend of factual information and social and emotional learning.

To be sure, this is a complicated geopolitical situation to understand and to help our children understand. We encourage kindness and patience as you communicate with one another and with your children. We may not all agree, but we must all treat each other with respect and refrain from accusations or dangerous, hateful speech.

We hope for safety in our community and in the communities outside of Brimmer going forward, as we know that the risk of antisemitic, Islamophobic, and xenophobic acts are heightened right now. Please take a look at these resources as you navigate conversations with your children:
Response to Buffalo Tragedy

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you to acknowledge the atrocities of several incidents of gun violence across the country this past weekend: a shooting at a majority Taiwanese church in California killed 1 person and injured 5; a shooting at a Dallas salon that injured three people is possibly connected to previous similar shootings, and may have been a hate crime targeting Asian Americans; a mass shooting at a Buffalo, NY supermarket by a self-proclaimed white supremacist and anti-Semite who was targeting Black people killed 10 people. The stain of gun violence and racism on our country is clear.

Judy Guild and I sent a letter to our faculty, staff, and Middle and Upper School students addressing the violence, condemning it, and assuring them that we have supports here at school in our counselors and advisors for processing these tragic events. Mrs. Guild spoke to the Middle and Upper School students in person on Monday morning to share the same thoughts and to explain the danger of hate.

I am writing to connect with you and share Brimmer’s actions at a time of national grief over these senseless acts of violence and racism, but also to provide you with guidance in speaking with your children about these events, should they come up in your homes. Additionally, students often bring their questions and concerns about the news to school; in preparation for those conversations, we have provided our faculty in all three divisions with resources to facilitate those discussions, should they arise, with students Pre-K through Grade 12. These are difficult conversations to have, and of utmost importance is assuring our students of our ongoing efforts to keep our school safe. The resources below are meant to give guidance on how to have these conversations with even the youngest children.

Brimmer condemns gun violence, racism, and hate crimes of any kind, and we mourn the lives lost this past weekend. At times like this, we are grateful for your partnership in creating a more peaceful world as we watch our children grow. Whenever we are able to engage in activities that can make our communities safer and more joyful, we should.

“I have decided to stick with love; hate is too great a burden to bear.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Resources for families:

https://www.pbs.org/parents/talking-about-racism

https://childmind.org/article/racism-and-violence-how-to-help-kids-handle-the-news/

https://news.yale.edu/2020/06/15/its-never-too-early-talk-children-about-race

https://www.facinghistory.org/about-us/stories/supporting-students-after-shooting-buffalo

https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/when-bad-things-are-happening

https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/subtopics/community-gun-violence/
Celebrating Pride Month in the Lower School

At Brimmer, we are proud to recognize historically marginalized communities all year round, but particularly in their national months of celebration. These months include Latinx or Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), Black History Month (February), and Women’s History Month (March). Most recently, we recognized and celebrated Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, both in May. We are very excited to close out the academic year by celebrating those in the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month in June!

Although the inception of Pride Month, which dates back to 1970, is a story of resistance and protest in the name of liberation and freedom to live authentically, over the decades, Pride Month celebrations have become joyful events that center love, family, and honoring individuality. That is the spirit that we will embrace in the month of June, as it connects so deeply with our Core Values. Celebrating Pride at Brimmer also means celebrating a part of our community that is represented in our faculty and staff, our families, and our students in all three divisions of the School.

With the help of our consultants at Think Again Training, an organization our full faculty has been working with all year, our Lower School teachers have been busy organizing age-appropriate lessons and projects to celebrate Pride Month. The project we are most excited about is a community Pride Flag project, in which each classroom in the Lower School will create a class flag, which will be modeled after the traditional Pride flag, but will center on the pride students have in their classrooms and in themselves.

We encourage you to focus on themes of love and family during Pride Month and to honor the range, even within the Brimmer community, of what makes a family a family. We are so happy to have children here who take pride in their families and feel they belong, whether they live with a mom and a dad, two moms, two dads, one parent, or another family member or caregiver. Please take a look at this list of library resources created by our librarians. Below are more resources for having discussions with your child about LGBTQ+ topics in ways that are accessible for children of any age.

We look forward to joy and warmth in the month of June and to our Lower School students feeling Pride in themselves and in their school community.

https://www.care.com/c/talking-pride-lgbtq-with-kids/

https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/how-to-explain-pride-month-to-a-child/

https://childwellbeing.asu.edu/explainingpridemonth
Indigenous Peoples’ Day & National Coming Out Day

On October 11, we will honor two important communities; the Indigenous communities in our country on Indigenous Peoples’ Day and those in the LGBTQ+ community, as Monday is also National Coming Out Day.

As we move into Monday and think about the Indigenous communities here in Massachusetts and across the country and the world, I encourage you to learn together with your child about the land on which we live and the ways in which we can honor Indigenous people and their tribal histories. While we want to celebrate local Indigenous communities, it is also important to remember the current and historical struggles of Indigenous people, including stolen land and violent conflicts. Brimmer’s new Director of Middle and Upper School Library, who also supervises our PK–12 library programs, has put together a wonderful list of resources to learn about the significance of this day. You can also visit your town or city’s webpage to learn more about local celebrations and ceremonies near your home. These activities help to support Indigenous communities nearby.

We also honor those in our lives who are part of the LGBTQ+ community with National Coming Out Day, which began officially in 1987. Brimmer is proud to partner with Think Again Training & Consulting this year as we work toward becoming a more inclusive and equitable community. Through faculty and staff trainings this year, we hope to take a more active role in being a place where students and families of all sexualities and gender identities feel a sense of belonging. On Monday, I encourage you to think of ways to support and embrace those in your lives and families who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ youth are among the most at-risk populations in the country, and we must work together to be a safe space for all identities.
Stop Asian Hate

We are deeply saddened and angered by the recent and horrific violence in Atlanta that targeted the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community living and working there. This was a deadly reminder of the anti-Asian racism that has skyrocketed in this country over the last year. AAPI individuals have experienced harassment and assaults due to extreme xenophobia, purposeful misinformation, and blatant racism. Our Asian and Asian-American students have reported to us these attacks in and around Boston. These are our students, our children. We stand with our AAPI students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni at Brimmer and the AAPI communities across the country in denouncing this hatred and violence. We will continue to fight against this racism as we work toward becoming a truly anti-racist community.

#StopAsianHate Resources (Added April 1, 2021)
“This Is What No One Tells You About Being Asian In America In 2021,” from Huffington Post

Anti-Asian Violence Resources, MADE BY HAAPI ERG | FLEXPORT

After Atlanta: Teaching About Asian American Identity and History, from Learning for Justice (Formerly Teaching Tolerance)

“A ‘History of Exclusion, of Erasure, of Invisibility.’ Why the Asian-American Story Is Missing From Many U.S. Classrooms,” from TIME
Women's History Month

The “unsung hero” trope can often seem like just that: a trope, performative and often steeped in superficiality. That always concerns me as we move into months of celebrating marginalized populations. Looking ahead to March, Women’s History Month, I found myself having the same concern. But as I reflected back on my 20 years in the work force, I realized that we are still experiencing a lot of “firsts:” Halle Berry, the first Black woman to win an Academy Award (2001); Nancy Pelosi, the first woman House Minority Leader (2006) and first woman Speaker of the House (2007); Sonia Sotomayor, the first woman of color to serve on the US Supreme Court (2009); Sarah Palin, first woman nominated for Vice President of the Republican Party (2008); Kamala Harris, first woman (and woman of color) Vice President of the United States (2020). There are countless others in just the last twenty years. Perhaps we, as women, are still scratching at the proverbial glass ceiling, still waiting for it to shatter.

I have worked in three independent schools in my career, two, including Brimmer, headed by strong, fiercely intelligent women. Still, we fight for equal pay and equal treatment, among other gender-based battles. I find that I am still inspired by women of all ages who are breaking the mold and accomplishing things that only men had accomplished before.

The month of March is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of women. In the two weeks that we are in school during that month, I look forward to conversations, books, and visuals that remind us that women are powerful and capable of amazing things. This inspires not only our female students, but all of our students.

I encourage you to read about women with your child, regardless of their gender. Teach them about Misty Copeland, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Sally Ride. Explain the struggles and celebrate the successes. Together, we will continue to move forward.

Affinity Groups and Training

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Affinity Groups & Student Diversity Clubs
Students have the option to participate in clubs and affinity groups including:
- African American/Latino/Multi-racial Affinity Group
- International Students from China Affinity Group
- AAPI Club
- GSA (Gender and Sexuality for All)
- Student Diversity Leadership Club
- Middle School Diversity Lunch Group
- Grade 5 Diversity Lunch Bunch
Topics discussed in our groups may include: celebrations of identity, history lessons, politics, current events, and microaggressions. The make-up and existence of our groups may change year-to-year as we respond to the needs of our community.
Student Conferences
Brimmer students help to develop internal diversity programming at the Lower, Middle, and Upper School levels. Off campus, students attend conferences including:
- NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC)
- AISNE Middle School Diversity Conference
- AISNE Middle School Student of Color Conference
- AISNE High School Student of Color Conference
These conferences address topics of race but also cover in depth issues surrounding socio-economic differences, gender identity, and sexual orientation, among other things.
Community Meetings for Diversity

All members of community—staff, families, and students gather each quarter for dinner and a meeting that focuses on the celebration of culture, announcing upcoming events at the School, setting goals for diversity efforts, and exchanging information.
Professional Development & Faculty Conferences

Faculty members attend conferences and workshops through organizations such as AISNE and NAIS that focus on topics including white privilege, representation of diversity in the classroom, and teaching students of color. Faculty members also attend the NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) each year.
Faculty & Staff Training

This includes workshops and professional development training from organizations such as the National Association of Independent School (NAIS); the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE); Bay Area People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS); the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN); and Visions. The Diversity Director has bi-monthly internal meetings with all the members of the Diversity Council.