Reflection from Kendall Mallette, Director of Mission Integration

FXW as Village Commons

In light of the challenges created by the last year of the world being in a health crisis and the United States facing the double pandemic of racism, it is more critical now than ever that we seek solutions and create spaces to be a catalyst for change. Former Maggie Daley Speaker Series presenter and interfaith leader Eboo Patel recently wrote about the role he believes higher education should play as he issues a call to action for the American college campus—all too often viewed as an ivory tower—to be a true “village commons.” In FXW’s quest “to be the model of a diverse and inclusive school community, the paradigm for Catholic education in Chicago, and the standard for faith-based independent school education”, we too must do our part as was evidenced by the update during last week’s Equity and Justice Forum Town Hall.

Nearly sixty volunteer parents, faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees have come together since the Equity and Justice Forum’s (EJF) initial meeting on July 31 to Do More to create meaningful and actionable change within the FXW Community. Last Tuesday evening, we heard presentations from the chairs of each of the Forum’s five subcommittees to gain greater perspective about how FXW is creating a stronger voice for equity and justice in these primary areas:

• Admissions: Recruit and Retain A Diverse Student Body
• Community (Students, Parents, Faculty/Staff)
• Cultural Competency in Curriculum
• Diversity, Equity and Justice Training for Faculty and Staff
• Recruit and Retain A Diverse Workforce

Many thanks to our committee chairs and members for their hard work and commitment over the past seven months to bring us to this point in time. If you were unable to join us for the FXW Equity and Justice Town Hall, click here to view the recording. FXW will keep you abreast of the Forum’s progress via the School’s website. Be on the lookout for an Equity & Justice Forum tab that will post quarterly updates on each committee’s progress. If you have questions or are interested in becoming part of this workforce, please contact domore@fxw.org. To register for Thursday’s Leveraging Our Legacy event (pictured above), click here. All are welcome.

Much like the village commons is a space that belongs to everyone in a community, at FXW we are striving to create an atmosphere in which all are welcome and experience a community filled with equity and justice for all.

—Kendall Mallette, Director of Mission Integration