Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Action

Members of the Harvard-Westlake Black Caucus came together for their annual holiday celebration. The gathering offered a joyful space for Black-identifying faculty, staff, and their loved ones to relax, reconnect, and reflect on the year. Guests participated in the group’s signature Ebony Exchange, a gift exchange featuring products from Black-owned businesses—a meaningful tradition that blends celebration with support for community entrepreneurship.

On December 11, the Jewish Club at the Middle School hosted a joyful Chanukah celebration featuring a spirited Dreidel tournament. Students gathered under the red umbrellas during lunch for music, laughter, and a fun-filled competition using traditional chocolate gelt. Events like these continue to highlight the vibrant cultural life of our community and the power of student-led celebration in fostering belonging and connection at Harvard-Westlake.

On December 8, members of the HW LGBTQ+ Alumni Network, HW Pride student group, families, and allies gathered for our annual Jingle & Mingle celebration. Held in the cozy spirit of the season, the evening featured festive sweaters, community connection, and joyful conversation. As one of the year’s most beloved traditions, Jingle & Mingle brings together generations of Wolverines to celebrate belonging, pride, and the warmth of chosen community.

We are grateful to all who helped make this year’s gathering such a special night!

On December 8, CHAI (Community of Harvard-Westlake Asian Indian) parents gathered for a morning coffee meet-up with Portia Collins, HW’s Parent Activities Liaison. Though not over chai (ironically), the group dove into a rich and wide-ranging conversation centered on connection, culture, and community.

The gathering created space for parents to share stories and ideas—discussing everything from books, art, and tennis, to Thanksgiving traditions, small business ventures, and children’s experiences at school. The dialogue reflected the vibrant diversity of interests within the CHAI community and the shared commitment to uplifting one another.

Parents even took time to welcome a new family that had just relocated to Los Angeles, highlighting the spirit of hospitality and support that defines this group. Events like this are part of Harvard-Westlake’s ongoing efforts to foster belonging, one gathering at a time.

From December 5–7, Harvard-Westlake hosted the SLIDE (Student Leaders for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) Leadership Development Program—an immersive, three-day retreat designed to equip students with the skills, vision, and confidence to lead with integrity and inclusion in their school communities.

While SLIDE is typically held in the summer, this year’s gathering took place across the Hilton Universal and Harvard-Westlake’s Upper School campus, offering students a winter experience centered on connection, curiosity, and courage. Through hands-on workshops, identity-based reflections, and collaborative team-building challenges, participants explored what it means to lead in a rapidly changing world.

This year’s theme, Get Ready With Me: Reimagining the Future of DEI, invited students to prepare for the real-world demands of leadership in the age of AI, shifting social landscapes, and evolving understandings of justice. With facilitators, guest speakers, and more guests supporting their journey, students worked across campuses and grade levels to spark new ideas, practice empathy, and build actionable plans for change.

In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, both middle school and upper school BLACC (Black Leadership, Awareness, and Cultural Connection) student groups gathered for their annual potluck lunches. With support from generous parent volunteers, these joyful gatherings centered community, gratitude, and shared cultural celebration. Students reflected on tradition, identity, and the power of coming together around a table.

Today, the South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) hosted Michelle Ranavat, founder of Ranavat Beauty, an Ayurvedic-inspired luxury skincare brand. Michelle shared her journey as an Indian American entrepreneur, blending tradition with modern innovation in the beauty industry. Students enjoyed snacks, a lively Q&A, and exclusive Ranavat samples. Thank you to Ms. Ranavat and everyone who joined us for this inspiring event!

On November 12, AACC (Asian American Culture Club), SASA (South Asian Student Alliance), and JLCC (Japanese Language and Culture Club) celebrated their Second Annual Asian Thanksgiving.

The event was filled with amazing food, laughter, friendship, and gratitude, thanks to the incredible contributions from parent affinity groups — JAG, CHAI, HWCCC, OHANA, and KAPA — who brought delicious dishes and treats for everyone to share.

This season, they are so thankful for our warm community and all the friends who came together to celebrate connection, culture, and the spirit of family.

On November 11, students and faculty gathered in Bing 123 for a powerful fireside conversation with Dr. Safiya Noble, hosted during community time. Dr. Noble, a professor at UCLA and the David O. Sears Presidential Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, shared insights from her research on how AI and big tech can perpetuate digital discrimination—particularly against women and people of color.

She discussed themes from her acclaimed book Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism, and encouraged the HW community to think critically about equity in the digital age. The conversation sparked reflection on data ethics, representation, and the responsibility of tech and education in shaping more just systems. Harvard-Westlake was honored to host this meaningful and timely dialogue.

On November 10, Harvard-Westlake welcomed California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick to campus. Hosted by Luivette Resto, Mr. Herrick engaged with students and faculty in an inspiring conversation about the power of poetry, identity, and storytelling. As the first Asian American to serve in the role of Poet Laureate of California, Mr. Herrick shared selections of his work and reflected on his journey as a writer, encouraging students to explore their own creative voices. His visit served as a meaningful reminder of the impact of language and the many forms of personal expression.

The Harvard-Westlake Black Caucus (HWBC) enjoyed a vibrant Sunday outing filled with connection, laughter, great food, and a powerful performance of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. The event offered faculty and staff a chance to build community and recharge outside of the busy rhythms of school life.

CHAI Moms’ Night Out in Santa Monica brought together new and returning HW moms for a breezy evening of connection and laughs over wine and great Italian food. They met lots of new faces, reconnected with friends, and swapped stories across grades. Moms came from all over L.A.—yes, even crossing the hill from the Valley—to be there by the beach.

Thanks to everyone who joined and helped make the night feel so welcoming for our families!

Members of Harvard-Westlake’s Latinx faculty and staff affinity group attended the LA ISLA (Los Angeles Independent Schools Latinx Affinity) Conference, held at Crossroads School. The gathering offered space for connection, reflection, and professional development rooted in Latinx identity and community.

Attendees enjoyed a keynote from Julie Chávez Rodríguez and proudly supported HW Middle School teacher and DEI coordinator, Luivette Resto, as she led a powerful poetry workshop. The event was a meaningful opportunity to celebrate Latinx voices and leadership within the independent school space.

Harvard-Westlake recently hosted its 9th annual Pollyanna Conference at the Middle School, bringing together students, faculty, administrators, trustees, and alumni from independent schools across the region. This year’s theme, Minds of All Kinds: Inclusive Learning, Limitless Possibilities, centered on the importance of recognizing and embracing neurodiversity in our school communities. Throughout the day, participants engaged in interactive workshops, heard from keynote speakers, and worked in school-based teams to reflect on how learning differences are supported—and sometimes overlooked—in educational spaces. The conference served as a space for learning, connection, and action, offering practical tools and strategies for creating more inclusive environments where all minds can thrive.

Harvard-Westlake hosted the Southern California Diversity Practitioners Luncheon, a gathering designed to bring together Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leaders from independent schools across the city. This recurring lunch serves as a space to refuel, exchange ideas, and remember the collective strength and resilience of those doing equity work in schools.

South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) spent a hands-on lunchtime session exploring the art of Henna, which is an intricate and meaningful temporary tattoo tradition popular in South Asian weddings, festivals, and celebrations. Attendees learned about the cultural significance of Henna and had the opportunity to create their own designs. The event blended creativity and cultural appreciation, offering artists and newcomers a fun and interactive way to connect with South Asian traditions.

On October 7, our Upper School Jewish Club led a memorial ceremony marking the two-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Israel. Gathering together in the Upper School sukkah, students and faculty reflected, prayed, and shared words of remembrance for the lives lost and those still affected. At the middle school campus, students continued their work on the memorial garden, adding painted remembrance rocks to honor victims and symbolize resilience and peace. The ceremony at the middle school centered this year on the 48 hostages who remain in captivity, affirming our community’s hope for their safe return and our commitment to empathy and awareness. Together, the Upper and Middle School observances created a shared space for mourning, reflection, and solidarity, reminding us of the power of memory and community in the face of tragedy.

Faculty gathered during lunch to kick off the decorating of the Middle School sukkah in preparation for Sukkot, the Jewish festival that began at sundown. Sukkot commemorates the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and is marked by the building of temporary shelters called sukkahs, symbolizing resilience, impermanence, and gratitude.

Photos of the process reflect the joy and collaboration shared during the effort. Sukkahs were set up on both campuses, offering the Harvard-Westlake community a meaningful way to honor and reflect on this important tradition.

Students gathered on Ted Slavin Field for a fun and laid-back lunchtime soccer game hosted in partnership with the Latin American and Hispanic Student Organization (LAHSO). Whether showing off their skills or just enjoying the vibes, students took the chance to connect, move, and soak up some fresh air.

Designed as an educational, judgment-free space, Harvard-Westlake’s annual LGBTQIA+ Safe Space Training helped faculty and staff explore how to create inclusive, empowering environments for LGBTQIA+ students. The session also encouraged straight and/or cisgender participants to grow as allies, contributing to a more queer-friendly school culture across all levels of campus life.

Harvard-Westlake’s Prefect Council hosted its annual Activities Fair during Community Time on Ted Slavin Field, showcasing the energy and creativity of student clubs and interest groups. With booths lining the field, students shared their passions and invited peers to join them in everything from academic clubs to cultural groups and creative collectives.

The Jewish Club kicked off the school year by introducing Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, during a community gathering led by the 2025–2026 student leaders. They shared the meaning behind the holiday, which begins in the Hebrew month of Tishrei and marks a time of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and hope for the year ahead.

Unlike January 1st celebrations, Rosh Hashanah is centered on introspection taking stock of the past year, seeking forgiveness, and setting intentions for growth. The students highlighted meaningful traditions like the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn), which serves as a powerful wake-up call to return to purpose, and symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey and round challah, representing sweetness and the cycle of life.

The celebration concluded with a live shofar blowing, offering a moving and authentic connection to the holiday’s themes of renewal, gratitude, and community.

Harvard-Westlake’s Middle School South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) recently hosted a mango lassi smoothie tasting to celebrate the start of the school year. Students learned some fun facts about lassi, ate some popular Indian snacks, and chatted about exciting events the affinity group has planned for the year. It was a delicious event!

Harvard-Westlake’s Middle School Asian American Culture Club (AACC) recently hosted a fun gathering to kick off the 2025-26 school year: a matcha latte bar! Students learned some fun facts about matcha, from traditional ways it’s prepped to how the tea leaves are harvested.

Ahead of the new school year, student leaders from each affinity group came together for a Sunday leadership training session focused on strengthening their roles and impact on campus. Through workshops, team-building activities, and reflection exercises, students developed tools to lead with clarity, confidence, and care. The training emphasized inclusive leadership, group facilitation, and building community within and across affinity spaces to set the tone for a strong, collaborative year.

The Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club (BLACC) hosted its annual retreat at the Harvard-Westlake Middle School, bringing students together for a fun and energizing day. The event featured a sound bath, raffles, a photo booth, and food, creating space for connection, leadership growth, and community building. It was a joyful way to kick off the school year and welcome both returning and new members.

On Thursday, May 22, the Special Olympics Unified Club hosted a high-energy Unified Basketball Game in Taper Gym in partnership with The Help Group. HW students and visiting athletes played side-by-side, cheered on by a packed crowd, the Spirit Team, and Dr. Jon Carroll on the mic with play-by-play and player intros. The gym was full of joy, support, and connection—reminding everyone of the power of sport to bring people together. It was a heartwarming moment of inclusion and school spirit that won’t soon be forgotten.

For the final Brown Bag Lunch and Learn of the year, the Women of Color Club (WOC) shared their reflections on their year. Students spoke candidly about their growth over the school year, challenges, and moments of joy, offering faculty and staff a powerful glimpse into their experiences. From Roe v. Bro, video content meant to test their male peer’s knowledge of the female experience to studies of Roxane Gay, the event highlighted the brilliance, compassion, and leadership of young women of color within the Harvard-Westlake community.

On Friday, May 16, Asian Students in Action (ASiA) & Asian Amerincan Culture Club (AACC) community gathered in Ahmanson for a special screening of DiDi, followed by a panel with the film’s star, Izaak Wang. The coming-of-age story follows a Taiwanese-American eighth grader as he navigates identity, culture, and growing up in the early days of YouTube and social media. Izaak, a Critics’ Choice nominee, shared insights on the film’s impact and the importance of authentic Asian American representation. DiDi has been recognized at Sundance, SXSW, and film festivals around the world for its honest and heartfelt storytelling.

On May 13, the Middle School’s SASA and AACC came together to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month with their first-ever beverage tasting event. Student leaders kicked things off with a brief intro to the month’s significance and fun facts about each drink. Attendees sampled a variety of iconic Asian beverages, from chai and mango lassi to Sac Sac, Milkis, Ramune, and Calpico. It was a fun, flavorful way to celebrate culture, community, and collaboration.

On Sunday, May 4, the Harvard-Westlake community gathered on the Upper School field for the 3rd annual Heritage Festival with an afternoon filled with incredible food and cultural celebration. With performances, delicious food trucks and an Interactive Cultural Museum, families explored the diverse backgrounds, traditions, and experiences that make up our school community. The festival offered a space to connect, welcome new families, and celebrate the richness of our collective heritage.

The Harvard-Westlake community came together on the Quad for the annual Multicultural Fair, hosted by Student Leaders for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (SLIDE). The event showcased student-led booths featuring food, music, art, and interactive activities, offering a vibrant celebration of the diverse cultures represented across campus. Through shared experiences and storytelling, the fair fostered cultural appreciation and connection, highlighting the importance of inclusion and community at Harvard-Westlake.

To close out National Poetry Month, West Hollywood Poet Laureate Jen Cheng visited the Middle School campus on Tuesday, April 29 in partnership with Amanda Angle’s creative writing class. She first met with members of Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and Asian American Culture Club (AACC) during break, followed by a feng shui poetry workshop during 5th period,and finished by typing original poems for students and faculty on typewriter, offering a personal and creative way to celebrate poetry across the community.

Seven student leaders and ten faculty and staff members from Harvard-Westlake attended the 2025 AsEA Conference in Atlanta, themed Our Space, Our Stories: Represent, Resist, Reclaim. Students participated in workshops on AAPI identity, intersectionality, microaggressions, activism, and belonging, engaging with peers from across the country in powerful conversations around community and leadership. On the final day, they presented reflections on topics such as the model minority myth, mental health, and social media’s impact on identity and concluded the trip with a visit to the World of Coca-Cola Museum rounding out a meaningful and inspiring experience.

On April 9, the entire 9th grade visited the Museum of Tolerance for a powerful and immersive experience. Students explored the history of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, examined contemporary issues of hate in the Peltz Social Lab, and engaged with interactive exhibits like the Point of View Cube and Global Crisis Center—encouraging reflection on identity, responsibility, and inclusion. In honor of the upcoming Yom HaShoah—Holocaust Remembrance Day—the Harvard-Westlake community will continue its commitment to remembrance through meaningful programs across divisions. Middle School students will hear from a third-generation survivor, while 10th graders will meet a Holocaust survivor who lived in hiding during the war. Together, these experiences reaffirm our dedication to education, empathy, and confronting hate.

Over Spring Break, students traveled to Washington, D.C., to explore Black history, culture, and community. The trip included visits to the Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials, Frederick Douglass’ historic home, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Students also explored the African Art Museum, participated in a vibrant African drumming and dance class, and toured both Howard and Georgetown universities. The trip ended with fun and bonding activities, including a Washington Wizards game and a visit to Dave & Buster’s to make for an unforgettable trip full of learning, culture, and connection.

Recently, the MS SASA (South Asian Student Alliance) affinity group hosted their annual Holi Celebration, bringing a splash of joy and color to campus! Along with their classmates, students enjoyed a little colorful chaos. Holi, known as the Festival of Colors, marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil! Traditionally, people celebrate by throwing vibrant powders, dancing, and sharing festive treats.

South Asian Student Alliance (SASA), Middle Eastern Student Alliance (MESA), and Muslim Student Association (MSA) came together for a special Lunch & Learn to celebrate and educate the community about Ramadan. Attendees enjoyed dates and cookies while hearing from Harvard-West;ake community members currently observing the holiday. A slideshow and an interactive Kahoot game helped deepen understanding of Ramadan’s significance, fostering a space for learning, reflection, and cultural appreciation.

On October 7, our Upper School Jewish Club led a memorial ceremony marking the two-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Israel. Gathering together in the Upper School sukkah, students and faculty reflected, prayed, and shared words of remembrance for the lives lost and those still affected. At the middle school campus, students continued their work on the memorial garden, adding painted remembrance rocks to honor victims and symbolize resilience and peace. The ceremony at the middle school centered this year on the 48 hostages who remain in captivity, affirming our community’s hope for their safe return and our commitment to empathy and awareness. Together, the Upper and Middle School observances created a shared space for mourning, reflection, and solidarity, reminding us of the power of memory and community in the face of tragedy.

The head of Harvard-Westlake’s fencing program shared her inspiring journey of resilience and determination. Immigrating from Lima as a lawyer, she transitioned from working at one of the most prestigious fencing clubs to taking a job at Fry’s Electronics and later becoming a teaching assistant. A pivotal suggestion led her to reach out to USA Fencing, which connected her with private schools ultimately bringing her to HW. Her story highlighted the power of persistence, perseverance, and seizing opportunities, encouraging students to stay determined and never give up on their goals.