Equity and Belonging

At Eton School, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is thoughtfully woven is into every aspect of our culture, shaping how we learn, teach, connect, and grow together each day.

Statement on Diversity
DEIB Committee Purpose Statement

Statement on Diversity

We believe in the worth and dignity of all people.

We learn, reflect, grow, and effect change through dialogue, education, and action.

We foster a community that acts with compassion, embraces discomfort, thinks critically, questions norms, and welcomes the world’s multiple perspectives.

We use our voices, challenge ourselves and others, and stand up for ourselves and others against injustice.

We champion, cultivate, and celebrate all members of our community so that we all participate as our full authentic selves, and thereby become stronger in our shared diversity.

We believe in the worth and dignity of all people.

We learn, reflect, grow, and effect change through dialogue, education, and action.

We foster a community that acts with compassion, embraces discomfort, thinks critically, questions norms, and welcomes the world's multiple perspectives.

We use our voices, challenge ourselves and others, and stand up for ourselves and others against injustice.

We champion, cultivate, and celebrate all members of our community so that we all participate as our full authentic selves, and thereby becoming stronger in our shared diversity.

DEIB Committee Purpose Statement

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) committee at Eton School is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment where all members of our school community feel valued, respected, and empowered. Our committee works collaboratively to address and dismantle systemic barriers, promote diversity, celebrate differences, and ensure that every individual feels a strong sense of belonging. Through our policies and initiatives, we strive to create a safe and nurturing educational environment that embraces the unique identities and experiences of all students, families, faculty, staff, and board members. Policies outlined herein do not supersede any information, policies, or procedures outlined in the Eton School Employee Handbook.

Shared Language

To communicate most effectively with each other about DEIB, it is important to have a shared understanding of common acronyms, terms, and definitions.

Term	Definition
ABAR	Acronym for Anti-bias and Anti-racist
Ableism	Beliefs and practices that devalue and discriminate people based on their ability
Anti-bias	Actively working against biases
Anti-racist	Actively working against racism
Belonging	The feeling of being seen, heard, and valued for your authentic self
BIPOC	Acronym for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
Body Neutrality	A movement that encourages a person to accept their physical body as it is, even on the days that they may not love, or feel positive about their body and/or abilities
Body Positivity	A movement that encourages everyone to have positive feelings and love for their body every day, no matter what it does or what it looks like
Colonization	Establishing control over a place and/or people
Critical Race Theory (CRT)	The examination of how race and racism have influenced social systems and institutions in America
Decolonization	Active resistance to colonial powers
Discrimination	The unfair treatment of a person or people based on an aspect of their identity
Diversity	Representation of a variety of different identites, including race, ethnicty, religion, gender identity, physical ability, neurodivergence, etc.)
Dominant Culture	A culture established as standard for an entire group of people
Environmental Justice	Fair treatment of all people in the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, practices, and policies
Equality	Offering the same treatment, access, and opportunity to all people with no consideration to the specific needs of people or groups of people
Equity	Offering fair treatment, access, and opportunity to all people, while working to eliminate specific barriers for a person or group of people
Ethnicity	The identity of a group of people based on cultural characteristics (ie language, ancestry, ritual, etc.)
Fat Acceptance	A movement that seeks to normalize larger bodies and helps promote size inclusivity
Gender Expression	The way people externally communicate their gender identity to others
Gender Identity	A person's innermost concept of self as male, female, both, or neither. Unrelated to biological sex or sexual orientation
Gender Role	Set of expectations and behaviors assigned to females and males by society
Implicit bias	Unconscious and unintentional attitudes or stereotypes that can affect a person's actions
Inclusion	The act of creating environments in which everyone feels welcomed and respected
Intersectionality	The way in which social identities such as gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and class intersect to create unique dynamics and effects in regards to power and privilege
Marginalized	A person or group of people regarded with little or no importance that has a lesser amount of power
Micro-aggression	Subtle and often unintentional insults or actions against people that belong to marginalized groups
Model Minority	Harmful stereotype of Asian Americans that characterizes them as universally successful and high achieving
Neurodivergent	A difference in neurological function from what is considered typical
Nonbinary	A person that does not identify with a specific gender
Privilege	Advantages given to a person or group of people that have identities that match those of the dominant culture
Race	The identity of a group of people based on physical characteristics, especially skin color
Racism	The belief that race is a determinant of superiority
Sexual Orientation	Identity that corresponds with the gender(s) that a person is attracted to
Social Construct	An idea that has been created by society
Social Identity	The collection of physical, cultural, and social characteristics that tie a person to different social identity groups
Social Justice	Creating and sustaining equality in society, including opportunities, rights, and treatment
Socioeconomic Class	Hierarchy based on fiscal wealth and social class
Stereotype	A common and shared belief about a person or group of people that is not based on fact
System	A number of different pieces that work together to acheive a common purpose
Systemic	Relating to the entirety of a system
Transgender	A person whose gender identity is not the same as the gender they were assigned at birth
White Fragility	A defensive reaction by white people in response to racism
White Guilt	Feelings of shame or remorse held by white people in response to racism
White Supremacy	Belief that the white race is superior to all other races

Eton Community Education Archives

DEIB Speakers

DEIB Speakers

Talking about Race & Racism with Ijeoma Oluo (Recording)

Seattle resident Ijeoma Oluo (ee-joh-mah oh-loo-oh), writer, speaker, internet yeller, and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, So You Want to Talk About Race, headlined the virtual Eton Community Education webinar on 28 April 2022.

In So You Want to Talk About Race, Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to “model minorities” and how race and racism infect almost every aspect of American life. During this event, she will discuss this bestselling work to guide our community toward having more honest conversations about race and racism.

It's Not Your Imagination, Kids are Different Today with Jenn Cort (Recording)

The first speaker for Eton Community Education was Jen Cort who spent almost two hours with our community on the evening of 28 October 2021. In her excellent presentation, she provided research and information regarding how children are different today and took the time to answer questions. She also provided consent for us to record the presentation and to share it, which is what we are doing here.

Community Partnerships

“The Bellevue Diversity Advisory Network is made up of a diverse group of 21 members who provide counsel to the city on how to better reach, serve, communicate and collaborate with Bellevue’s diverse communities.”

“Bridging Legacies Across Campuses (BLAC) is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and supporting diversity in educational settings. Through collaborative partnerships and a commitment to equity and belonging, BLAC aims to empower students and educators alike, facilitating meaningful dialogues and actionable change within our communities.”

Eastside Pathways, a collective of public and private organizations on the Eastside serving children, is a member of StriveTogether, a national network of 70 community partnerships that use the principle of Collective Impact framework as the way to effect deep, long-lasting systemic change to support local education systems. The approach is based on individual responsibility and collective accountability, using data to drive actions and decision-making and focusing on continuous improvement. (http://eastsidepathways.org/collective-impact/)

POCIS Northwest strive to connect, empower and strengthen the BIPOC members of our schools and our regional independent school community by providing opportunities and programming for education, growth, and engagement.

POCIS Northwest offers our member schools resources and programming to support their DEI goals that enhance the student experience in learning, engagement, and connection.

POCIS Northwest's aim is to:

Promote dialogue among educators, students, and families of color in our schools
Provide learning opportunities for our member schools’ broader communities
Build community and belonging in our schools
Help to attract more families of color to our member schools

Vision: A safer, more informed and equitable community for the queer population on the Eastside.

Values

Integrity: How we act toward others is consistent with our mission and our principles. It is the essence of who we are and what drives us – with unwavering honesty and respect.

Authenticity: We come to each discussion, interaction and relationship with an open, honest sense of self, and expect our partners to do the same. We embrace transparency in our communications and operations, and we foster genuine relationships with our communities, partners and supporters. As a guiding principle, we are humble in our learning, adaptive in our approaches and inclusive while providing sincere support.

Inclusivity: We foster all voices that come from a place of love and celebrate diversity to not only include but embrace and honor the sacred lived experiences of our community. Through action and listening, we ensure that all are represented.

Adaptability: While serving the needs of our 2SLGBTQIA+ & BIPOC communities, we are dedicated to remaining flexible, open to change and resilient in the face of evolving needs and challenges. With the use of innovation and continuous improvement, we navigate shifting circumstances while staying true to our mission and values. This ensures we can effectively address the ever-changing landscape of queer rights and their well-being, while remaining rooted in our core principles.

Popular Links

Quick Links