“The Importance of PRIDE” from Christopher House RIDE Committee
The Christopher House RIDE (Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) committee promotes inclusion, equity, and diversity across our family of schools, which include Infant and Preschool, Elementary and Middle School, After School, and Parent School. The committee meets monthly to discuss issues related to race, inclusion, diversity, and equity in the news and at Christopher House, and is made up of three subcommittees – Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion.
DIVERSITY
Our goal is to honor, educate on, and celebrate the diverse cultures that make up the Christopher House community, including our scholars, families, teachers, staff, and surrounding neighborhoods (Belmont Cragin, Uptown, and Logan Square).
“We are looking to support and educate our colleagues about the issues that oppressed people in our country may face, and this includes members of the LGBTQ+ community. We believe supporting education in PRIDE month is important, because PRIDE is really about identity and the right to openly express one’s identity. We need to accept people for how they identify themselves. Children, families, and staff need to understand that different people perceive themselves in different ways and that is okay. It is just as important for LGBTQ+ children to see themselves represented as it is for children of different races and ethnicities. As our children are figuring out who they are, we want Christopher House to be a place of nurturing and acceptance for them and their families. I think the same can be said for our LGBTQ+ colleagues. There is a lot of overt oppression of the LGBTQ+ community happening around our country, and we want Christopher House to be a safe space for everyone.”
HEALTH EQUITY
Our goal is to build community and social engagement opportunities across CH schools and locations that support all facets of wellness.
“Inclusive practices are fundamental in creating supportive learning environments where each and every child feels respected, accepted, welcomed, and valued. We are working to build up a community in which all children and families ultimately have equitable opportunities, and this begins with celebrating our community members for who they are. Celebrating PRIDE month for our children, families, staff, and community is important because it is a celebration of being proud of being your authentic self. Building this confidence and feeling like you are heard and seen will ultimately positively impact the well-being and academic success of students and families.
INCLUSION
Our goal is to help foster an inclusive work culture where staff can be true to themselves, feel they belong at CH, and be celebrated and recognized for their work.
“The Christopher House Inclusion Committee was formed with the intention of creating opportunities and a platform for every member of the Christopher House community to know that not only are they a part of something, but that each individual, whether a scholar, family member, or staff member, are an integral contributor to the organization. One definition of inclusion is the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized. At Christopher House, it is our mission to ensure that NOBODY feels excluded and that everyone has the opportunity for equal access – this includes ALL members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Inclusion subcommittee is continuing to work to come up with different ways to ensure that this mission is being delivered on each and every day.”
Our After School scholars held a Black History Museum for their classmates and parents, in preparation for which they had the opportunity to delve deeper into Black histories from around the world. While our younger learners crafted traditional artwork and decorated handprints, our Youth Leadership scholars researched and presented on African countries, with many sharing their own families’ cultures and traditions.
