Certificate in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice: CDEIJ
This certificate track seeks to build upon the Quaker testimonies of Community, Equality, and Peace by exploring the complex and intersecting issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. This interdisciplinary investigation will aid students in developing the mindset and skills needed to build a sense of belonging for all, to strengthen our community and our society, and to transform lives.
The following four components are required, but particular projects and activities will be open to student interest and inquiry.
Three Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Course Credits:
Students must complete at least three units/credits (3 semesters) in any of the following courses. You must earn a B average or higher in these selected courses to apply the credit towards the certificate. Note that not every course listed here will be offered in a particular academic year. Check the departmental course listing for more information.
English
-
Caribbean Literature: Worlds Beyond the Cruise Ships (1 unit)
-
The Madwoman in the Attic (1 unit)
-
The Harlem Renaissance (1 unit)
-
*American Studies, English (2 units)
Language & Culture
Math
Performing Arts
Religious Studies and Philosophy
Social Studies
-
*American Studies, Social Studies (2 units)
-
Peace, Justice, and Social Change (1 unit)
-
Modern Africa (1 unit)
-
African American Studies (1 unit)
-
Women and Gender in American History (1 unit)
Visual Art
*Note: American Studies counts for two units/credits only.
Three Major Projects:
Students must complete at least three major projects during the course of their junior and senior years. Projects can take a variety of forms and can be (but are not required to be) connected to coursework. All projects should contain the following three aspects: research, a final product(s), and an audience. The following are examples of possible CDEIJ projects:
-
U.S. History Term Paper: exploring the paradox of Alexander Hamilton’s ambition and anti-slavery ideology
-
English Capstone Project: exploring tropes of identity in American poetry, American fiction, etc
-
Creating a podcast that presents critical conversations on issues of intersectionality, race, gender, sexuality amongst school members and/or the broader community
-
Creating a “how-to” film/video on how to facilitate difficult conversations in M/S and U/S specifically for students
-
Staging a school-wide debate on critical DEIJ issues
-
A workshop for Friends Multicultural Day on the theme of DEIJ
80 Activity Hours:
Students must complete at least 80 hours of activity credit over two years. As part of the Upper School activity requirement, students are required to complete two major activities per year. One of the activities must be a sport, and the second can be a 40-hour activity or a second sport. For students pursuing the certificate, they can apply this existing 40-hour activity requirement with a focus on DEIJ activities during each of their 11th and 12th-grade years. Many of these activities are offered through PC clubs and events. A maximum of 20 out of the 80 hours could be completed in the summer. Some of these activities could include:
-
Attend approved lectures/events outside of school on DEIJ topics such as Friend’s Central QYLC or SCH’s Shout Conference and discuss the event/lecture with your cohort
-
Attend or facilitate a workshop for Cheryl Irving Student Diversity Conference
-
Facilitate a workshop for Friends Multicultural Day
-
Attend, or facilitate DEIJ focused SLC workshop
-
Attend the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) and share the experience with the larger PC community
80-hour Senior Comprehensive Project:
The Senior Comprehensive Project (SCP) should function as an environmental "capstone" to a student’s certificate work. Students will connect a particular DEIJ theme with a "public purpose" lens in their SCP. While all 12th-grade students are required to complete an SCP, those pursuing the certificate will work with the SCP advisor as well as the advisor for the Certificate in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice to complete their SCP. These projects might include:
-
Create DEIJ event/experience for the PC community
-
Create and facilitate DEI Project focused on involvement in greater Philadelphia (this could be working with Jefferson University)
-
Involvement in DEIJ related non-profit organizations