About Us

Building Racial Equity

Bank Street College believes in the humanity of all people and is committed to its historic values of social justice and equity for all. As part of the College’s work towards building racial consciousness and fluency across our institution, Bank Street creates spaces of dialogue and learning around issues of race, history, and systemic racism to build a more inclusive and equitable environment for students, faculty, and staff.

In our work with school systems, program partners, and communities, Bank Street further supports the principles of anti-racism. Our work encourages leaders, educators, caregivers, and families to examine the systemic racism that is internalized by all of us and engage in anti-racist practices and interventions that dismantle systems of oppression in schools and communities. This critical work supports the tenets of social justice and equity to help close opportunity gaps and transform those structures and systems that devalue the lives of Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Every day, Bank Street educators help adults and children construct knowledge around biases, building relationships, naming injustice, and working together to change the world.

In the words of Bank Street’s founder Lucy Sprague Mitchell, we see in education the opportunity to build a more just and democratic society for all.

Masks made by students

Social Justice & Equity

The School for Children’s approach to social justice and equity focuses on supporting positive identity development and preparing students to be advocates for social justice, as well as allies in an inclusive community. Beginning in the Lower School, students explore concepts like fairness and inclusivity and, later in the Middle School and Upper School, engage in developmentally appropriate lessons and activities based on themes related to racial identity and advocacy.
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