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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In our mission statement, we promise to graduate students who are at “ease beyond their borders”; that is, students who have the cultural competencies necessary to engage with and serve in communities other than their own. Whether those borders are defined by race, culture, physical ability, socio-economic background or other measures of identity, Avenues equips its students to connect across differences and embrace access for all—both in and out of the classroom.
![](http://a.storyblok.com/f/112543/1200x800/c5c27f9847/awareness-day-thumb-large-min.jpeg)
“Women of Color at Avenues provides a safe space for young women of color in the Avenues community to share their experiences and be proud of their roots. It has created stronger connections with peers and provided a venue for crucial discussions about how we can empower women of color—both inside and outside our community.”
Kim P., Class of 2022, founder of WOCA
Student Clubs and DEI:
+ Art and Activism
+ AAA (Asian Alliance at Avenues)
+ Black Student Union
+ BuildOn Club
+ Committee for Social Change
+ CareBooks and Co.
+ Food and Hunger Advocacy Club
+ Girls Ace
+ Girls Who Math
+ Latinx Student Union
+ Let’s Talk
+ MOCA (Men of Color at Avenues)
+ Peer Leadership
+ Queer Straight Alliance
+ Service Learning Club
+ WOCA (Women of Color at Avenues)
DEI by numbers
53.5 miles
Longest commute to campus
236 feet
Shortest commute to campus
13%
Students from outer boroughs
23%
Historically underrepresented students of color
53%
Students of color
34
Number of countries represented in student body
42
Number of languages spoken at home
20%
Students receiving financial aid
$15 million
2020-21 total financial aid budget
People
Kym Ward Gaffney
VP Learning, Leadership & Inclusion
Daisy Vivar and Yolaine Luna
ELC DEI coordinators
Yaojia Qu, Chloe Tawaststjerna and Lisa McDonald
Lower Division DEI coordinators
Crystal Bates
Upper Division DEI coordinator
“Diversity, equity and inclusion work at Avenues begins with the individual; exploring how our own biases, lived experiences and worldviews impact the ways in which we support our students and each other. We work together to create spaces and places where students and their families, faculty and staff are seen, heard and valued.”
Crystal Bates
Upper Grades Representative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Annual Inclusion Awards 2020-21
Organized by the Avenues Parent Association (APA), the Annual Inclusion Awards recognize staff, students and faculty who “take on an inspirational role in helping to create an inclusive community at Avenues.” Winners are nominated by the Avenues community.
Staff Inclusion Award
Morgan Jones, Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships
Student Inclusion Award
Kyra Menon
Faculty Inclusion Award
Chloe Tawaststjerna (Lower Division)
Michael Somsersel (Upper Division)
Ibram X. Kendi Award
Kym Ward Gaffney, Global Director of DEI
Trailblazer Award
For parents who have made an extraordinary contribution to DEI at Avenues
Gina Crawley, Shampa Bhattacharya and Scott McCormack
Che and Grace Award
For students who have made an extraordinary contribution to DEI at Avenues
Che Glenn and Grace Cuddihy
Annual Traditions
+ APA Inclusion Awards
+ Avenues World’s Fair
+ Awareness Day
+ Black History Month
+ Carnival
+ Change Makers
+ Community Day
+ LGBTQ+ History Month
+ Lunar New Year
+ Chinese Cabaret
+ Spanish Cabaret
+ Transgender Awareness Week
Community Engagement Partners
Community engagement and service learning are woven into the curriculum from nursery to 12th grade.
Community Engagement Highlights
Avenues students provide musical entertainment to fellow New Yorkers at the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in Chelsea.
Community Robotics
Avenues’ middle grades First Lego League team partnered with Hudson Guild to create an after school Chelsea community robotics team. The team, made up of Avenues and Hudson Guild students, reached the FLL semifinals and are preparing for qualifiers in the spring.
Avenues Band at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen
For several weeks, the Avenues band performed jazz and funk at the soup kitchen while dozens of needy New Yorkers enjoyed a hot meal.
Community Mural Project
7th and 8th grade students worked with a world-renowned artist Max Frieder to design multiple large-scale murals for the Chelsea neighborhood. Students joined with peers from the Fulton Houses to paint the murals.