Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice & Belonging

It is the mission of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee of the Board of Directors to support and uplift the mission of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and the charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph by ensuring that the personhood and humanity of each student, staff person and faculty member at the Mount is respected and acknowledged. The Committee will make recommendations about all aspects of DEI efforts taken by the Mount community to facilitate administration’s development and achievement of a holistic DEI program at the Mount. All members of the Mount community are created in the image of our loving God. The ultimate goal of the DEI the committee is to reinforce that the “dear neighbor” is not only found outside of the walls of the Mount in the greater community and beyond, but within the walls of the Mount where “founders” are created to be agents of transformation in society.

The DEIJB Colleague committee is comprised of faculty members, administrators and staff committed to furthering DEIJB initiatives in the Mount Saint Joseph Academy community.

The Committee objectives include: 

• Maintain SSJ mission alignment in all our work; 
• Bring justice, belonging, inclusivity, social awareness, and education into the conversation;
• Make room around the table for everyone;
• Expand upon personal growth;
• Build community;
• Create accessibility for all;
• Foster a willingness to have difficult conversations;
• Create a better understanding of intent vs. impact

Topics of Discussion Include:

• Mission & Vision

• Culturally Responsive Practices (CRP) 

• Hiring & Admissions

• Diversity Council 

The Diversity Council is a student-led organization that celebrates the diversity of our community by creating a safe and brave space for community members to discuss ways of fostering equality and inclusion with the goal of creating a place where all feel a sense of belonging.

In 2020, a national reckoning on race gave way to deep and meaningful conversations with alumnae and current students, calling on us to focus more intentionally and urgently on how we can change to improve our school environment for current and future students of color at the Mount. Within three weeks of beginning her tenure as President of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Sister Charlene Diorka, SSJ announced the first steps of an intentional, measured focus for diversity, equity & inclusion at the Mount, named Project Cilia, which will usher in a series of short- and long-term changes at our institution.

Project Cilia references “reconciliation,” a word deeply rooted in the mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Cilia, the foundation of the word reconciliation, means “eyelash.” Sister underscored that she would stand eyelash to eyelash with alumnae of color to acknowledge and apologize for any instances of racism that they have experienced in the past at the Mount and call upon the entire Mount community to stand face to face in unified intolerance for racial injustice.

While a long-term effort that will unfold over several years, Project Cilia included short-term initiatives that were executed in the 2020-2021 school year. A number of these suggestions were made during four in-person and virtual listening sessions held in the summer of 2020 and attended by hundreds of alumnae of color and their allies. For this input and gift of time, we are so thankful.

Project Cilia contains three pillars: Community, Climate and Content/Curriculum.