We're looking for affinity group leaders

At DSST, we believe that equity is core. It is in our mission, drives our values, and is a part of why many of us choose this privileged work day in and day out.  

You may have seen the exciting launch of Affinity Groups at DSST on the Helix and thought to yourself, “Wow! That sounds cool--I want to lead one!”

Well, we’re excited to say: here’s your chance!

Apply to lead an Affinity Group by 12/17/18 by filling out this application and emailing it to uzma.chowdhury@scienceandtech.org.

We are so excited to launch our 2018-2019 Affinity Groups at DSST. Affinity Groups are an optional discussion space in which participants unpack what it means to have membership within a racial group, build relationships with teammates network-wide, and collectively strategize what our individual work can mean for our collective mission.

In this pilot year, Affinity Groups will be race-based and for our staff (see below for more context). In an effort to be as inclusive as possible, we are not assigning identity groups, rather asking interested participants to self-identify affinity groups in the interest survey. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this survey. Once we have this initial information, we will follow up with logistics and invitations.

Why race-based affinity groups?

• Users will find that there’s an intentional but not a sole focus on race.

• Identities are exponential; choosing to focus on one aspect of identity allows us to deeply understand racial identity while also preventing exclusion of certain identities. Narrowing the lens intentionally narrows the scope of what otherwise would be an infinite list.

• Race is external, unlike most other identities. It is often the first point of judgment and exclusion.

• DSST’s focus on integrated schools means that we interface directly with racial diversity as a core component of our model, and therefore must take ownership of the impact of race on our mission.

• Even as participants continue to explore other lines of identity—it is done through an intersectional lens.

Why adult learners?

• Identity development is neither finite or linear. Because there’s no final destination, the space to reflect and investigate about identity needs to exist both for adults and students, particularly for those adults attempting to build identity investigation spaces for students. Affinity Groups honor DSST’s institutional recognition of this necessary space.

• As adults, we must cultivate our own identity development simultaneously as we look to the students.

We are so excited to engage in Affinity Groups at DSST.  If you are interested in participating, please fill out this survey, if you are interested in leading apply here.

Also, please check out our DEI Portal on the Helix. Here you will find resources and programming that aim to support all of our collective work toward developing our equity mindsets.

Please reach out to uzma.chowdhury@scienceandtech.org with any questions.