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Families of Color Program
at Westtown School
The Families of Color Group (FOC) was founded in 2001 by the school administration and is comprised of parents, teachers, administrators, and upper school student leaders.
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Our goal is to provide a network of support for students, parents, and faculty of color and to offer events and initiatives designed to forge deeper unity within the Westtown Community through multi-cultural dialogue, art and education.
Some of the annual initiatives of the Families of Color Group have included:
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Hosting gatherings of new and current families of color for the purpose of providing a network of friendship
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Supporting the Admissions Department in the recruitment and retention of students of color
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Providing boarding students of color with host families from among the Westtown parent body
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Supporting the hiring and retention of faculty of color
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Providing seminars/workshops to parents and faculty on subjects pertaining to diversity and multiculturalism
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Providing seminars/workshops to Upper School students (financial literacy, career opportunities, etc)
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Co-hosting the "Friends School Students of Color College Fair" with Westtown's administration
Why participate in the Families of Color program? Here are some comments from current members:
“Meeting other families of color and getting our specific questions answered about issues of diversity and multiculturalism at Westtown School was a key factor for us in choosing Westtown”– New parent of color
“ While many young students of color are not old enough or have the words to articulate to others what it feels like to be different, as a parent of color, I want my children to feel that they are both different and equally special.” – Current Lower School parent of color
“By seeing and acknowledging difference, even in a Quaker School where we value that of God in each person, we are actually promoting individuality and developing self-esteem and self-identity.” – Administrator
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