focus groups with equity connections

Similar to last year, as part of our commitment to continuous learning through the lens of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the school will be hosting student and staff focus groups to amplify voices from our community.  Our partners in this work, Equity Connections, will facilitate these on Thursday, January 26th, 2023 during the school day with both our students and staff who are from equity seeking/under-represented groups or those who have been marginalized. Although the school recognizes the many diverse identities and intersectionality of those identities, for the purposes of these focus groups, we are hoping to hear from the following groups whose voices have not been traditionally centered: Black, Indigenous, and people of colour; faith-based groups; persons with a disability; and those belonging to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, including those who are non-binary or gender fluid.

The purpose of these focus groups is to learn about the impact of the changes the school has made in the last year, to gather input on future initiatives and structures and practices that should be added, reworked, or removed in the efforts to create an increased sense of belonging for all at The York School (see May 2022 update). 

These sessions will be facilitated by Cherilyn Scobie (Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UofT, Scarborough Campus and Co-founder of Equity Connections) in person on Thursday January 26th.These sessions are completely optional. Staff groups will be separate from student groups. Please note that specific details of the conversations students and staff have with Cherilyn will not be shared with any member of The York School. Equity Connections will share themes as we have done so in the past and use the data to continue to develop the school’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as we work on our new strategic plan. 

If you are interested in participating in a student focus group, please complete this short Focus Group (Student) Registration Form by Monday January 23rd 2023 at 4pm. 

More details will follow once the groups and schedule are finalized.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any member of the DEI Team 

• Ms. Gopal

• Sean Rand (DEI Chair) 

• Ms. Kline-Beber