Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Villa Maria's DEIB student leaders for the 2023-24 school year.
DEIB Committees
Villa Maria formed its DEIB Committee in the 2014 – 2015 school year with both students and faculty/staff. Today there are two Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIB) Committees at Villa Maria — one that is student-led and one that is faculty/staff led.
Student DEIB Committee
The Student DEIB Committee is a student-led organization which strives to increase awareness of issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to promote positive change both within and beyond the Villa Maria community. The Student DEIB Committee organizes and facilitates DEIB presentations and programs for the Villa Maria community throughout the school year. All students are welcome to participate.
Student DEIB Leadership Team
The Student DEIB Leadership Team consists of a small group of dedicated students who lead and facilitate DEI events, presentations and programs for the Villa Maria community.
Faculty/Staff DEIB Committee
The faculty/staff DEIB Committee meets monthly to discuss and make recommendations for DEIB policies and programs which will enhance student learning and the student experience as well as the experience of the entire Villa Maria community.
Director of Service and Social Justice
Contact Kara Bielli, kbielli@vmahs.org.
Ignatian Solidarity Network and the IFTJ Conference
Villa Maria is a member of the Ignatian Solidarity Network, and each year Villa students, faculty, and staff attend the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C., the largest Catholic social justice gathering in the United States. As part of that gathering, our students and faculty/staff participate in Advocacy Day where they meet with members of Congress and/or their staff to discuss pending legislation and issues of social justice.
Villa Maria Academy DEIB Statement
Villa Maria Academy is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community that respects and promotes the integration of underrepresented groups into its community.Villa Maria Academy is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community which respects and promotes the integration of underrepresented groups into its community. Villa Maria recognizes the many dimensions of diversity and the broad, complex, and dynamic nature of human difference and similarity. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging are essential in an educational environment, including preparing students for citizenship in a global society, the sharing of cultural knowledge and wisdom, and promoting collective well-being. A policy of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging will facilitate Villa Maria Academy’s mission as a Catholic and IHM Congregational school.
.
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."U.S. Representative John Lewis
Diversity Prayer
We praise You, God for the diversity that is all around us. We rejoice in the complex beauty of your creation. Help us to celebrate the wonderful blend of cultures and peoples in this world by actively seeking solidarity with one another. Amen.