Office for Identity, Culture and Institutional Equity

We offer several student affinity spaces in the Lower, Middle and Upper Division. Please see below for the offerings in those divisions:

Fun Facts:

• Affinity Spaces are optional, closed spaces for people who share a particular identity.
• Affinity Spaces offer a space to meet, converse, and fellowship with each other.
• Affinity Spaces are employee-led.

Lower Division:

• Banana Splits Affinity Space
• STEPS (Students Together Empowering People of Color Successfully)
• WISE (Women in Science and Engineering)

Middle Division:

• 1st Generation U.S. Born Affinity Space
• APISA (Asian Pacific Islander South Asian) Affinity Space
• Banana Splits Affinity Space
• Black Girls Affinity Space
• Jewish Affinity Space
• Latinx Affinity Space
• LGBTQ+ Affinity Space
• Multiracial Affinity Space
• STEPS (Students Together Empowering People of Color Successfully)
• Students of Color Affinity Space

Upper Division:

• APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Affinity Space
• BlEx (Black Excellence) Affinity Space
• Jewish Affinity Space
• LGBTQ+ Affinity Space
• Latinx Affinity Space
• Middle Eastern Affinity Space
• South Asian Affinity Space
• STEPS (Students Together Empowering People of Color Successfully)

Seminar on Identity is a curriculum that we offer for 6th grade students, giving them the opportunity to explore identity development broadly and consider the ways in which their own identities can provide them with the agency to effect positive change in their lives and in their communities. The course examines the relationship between identity and and gives students the opportunity to examine the intersections of different social identifiers and power through readings, film screenings, activities, and open dialogue.

The Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) is a multicultural gathering for Upper Division student leaders from across the U.S. and abroad.  Led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators, participating students develop cross-cultural communication skills, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue and the arts, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles.

We offer two employee affinity spaces.  Please see below for the offerings: 

Fun Facts:

• Affinity Spaces are optional, closed spaces for people who share a particular identity.
• Affinity Spaces offer a space to meet, converse, and fellowship with each other.
• Affinity Spaces are employee-led.

All Employees:

• BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Affinity Space
• LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Affinity Space

PoCC, the parallel conference to SDLC, is the flagship of NAIS’s commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning, and organizational development. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership and professional development for People of Color, and networking for People of Color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. PoCC offers our participating employees thought-provoking workshops, inspiring speakers, affinity group spaces, and more.

Pollyana is a K-12 racial literary curriculum in which students are presented with opportunities to examine and explore fundamental values related to identity, community, and justice.  Horace Mann has adapted selections from this curriculum in order to allow us to think more critically about the ways we teach our students. 

Click here to visit their page.

The National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) partners with communities, institutions, and schools to develop leaders who guide their peers in conversational communities to drive personal, institutional, and societal change toward social justice.  SEED leaders design their SEED seminars with the flexibility to adapt them to their own local needs.

The Horace Mann Parent Association proudly features eight Alliance Groups, each offering opportunities for cultural engagement. These groups are based on religion, gender identity and/or sexual orientation, and racial/ethnic identities. Members either identify with the group’s affinity or are allies of the group. The current Alliance Groups, which are listed below, hold social gatherings and host events throughout the school year that are open to all members of the HM community. These events serve as platforms for cultural exchange and engagement. Please click on the links below to learn more about each group.

Black Parents Union (BPU)

Chinese Family Network (CFN)

Families of Islamic Heritage and Friends (FIHF)

Hispanic/Latino Family Network (H/LFN)

Jewish Family Alliance (JFA)

Korean Parents League (KPL)

HM Pride (LGBTQ+ Alliance Group)

HM South Asian Families (HMSAF)

If you would like to receive emails from any (or all!) of these groups, please click here to opt in!

如果您想接收来自任何（或所有!）这些团队的电子邮件，请点击此处选择加入。

如果您想接收來自任何（或所有!）這些團隊的電子郵件，請點擊此處選擇加入

আপনি যদি এই গোষ্ঠীর যে কোন (বা সব) থেকে ইমেইল পেতে চান, অনুগ্রহ করে নির্বাচন করতে এখানে ক্লিক করুন

यदि आप इन समूहों में से किसी (या सभी) से ईमेल प्राप्त करना चाहते हैं, तो कृपया ऑप्ट इन करने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें

اگر آپ ان گروپوں میں سے کسی (یا تمام) سے ای میل وصول کرنا چاہتے ہیں تو براہ کرم آپٹ ان کرنے کے لیے یہاں کلککریں۔

Si le gustaría recibir correo electrónico de uno ( o todos!) los grupos por favor presione aquí para ser incluido.

 향후 일정 그룹으로부터 이메일을 받고자 하시는 분은 본 링크(Link)로 들어가서 해당란에 표시해 주시기바랍니다

これらのグループからの Eメールを受けとりたければ、ここをクリックして下さい。

​​ Si vous voulez recevoir des communications de la part d'un ou de l'ensemble !! de ces groupes, veuillez cliquer ici afin de vous abonner

The Parent Institute is designed to support families as they navigate their child’s educational, social and emotional developmental years at Horace Mann. We seek to instill in our families a sense of inclusion and belonging to our school community as well as cultivate a collaborative relationship between home and school. Developmental themes will be explored to assist families in parenting their children, providing them with the knowledge, guidance and confidence that is required in fostering healthy family relationships.