After a refreshing winter break, our community has kicked off the second semester with MLK Sunday Supper, Lunar New Year celebrations, parent education and professional development. Pace is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive school community, so programming is strategically targeted to reach every corner of our school community, and to ensure that our initiatives are effective and aligned with the missions and values of our school.

On Sunday, Jan. 16, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted “Sunday Supper” as part of a partnership with Hands On Atlanta. Sunday Suppers take place simultaneously across Atlanta, convening for intimate, thought-provoking experiences with guided conversations around Dr. King's vision for economic justice. After two years of hosting this special event in a virtual setting, we were thrilled to return to an in-person gathering in Gandhi Hall.

Throughout the week of Jan. 22, Pace celebrated the Lunar New Year across campus. Students enjoyed a Lion Dance and Kung Fu demonstration from the Chien Hong School of Kung Fu, as well as student-led presentations, and red envelopes, dumplings and games during lunch, thanks to our wonderful parent volunteers. 

IONS, a parent conversation group, met on Wednesday, Jan. 25, for an evening of parent education on Understanding Gender led by Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Joanne Beauvoir Brown and Director of Equity and Inclusion Nirvana Kelly Scott. Parents learned more about gender diversity and discussed how to be a caring, supportive community for gender-diverse and gender-expansive students and families. Please join us for a continuation of this conversation at our next IONS meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. 

Pace faculty and staff are busy at work, yet they still take time to improve their understanding through professional development. The Academic Resource Center and the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion have partnered to provide on-campus lunch-and-learn events to support neurodiversity in the classroom. These sessions prepare educators with new skills to improve the learning of all students while strengthening the academic success of neurodivergent students.

As we look ahead to Black History Month, we are eager to celebrate the national theme of Art and Resistance. Programming for Black History Month will span all three divisions and include presentations and performances from families, artists, poets, musicians and students. We are excited about everything we have prepared, and we look forward to our continued programming that honors all community members.

Sincerely,

The Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion