Moving at the Pace of Trust: DEIB at Gould

A Collaborative, Community

Gould’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Council is a unique group. Bringing together students, faculty, and staff from every part of campus, it strives to take an organic, collaborative approach to initiative development and problem-solving. Along with the school’s DEIB Coordinator, the Council also works closely with Gould’s DEIB Consultant (and attorney, mediator, life coach, and former parent Stefan Jackson P’20), whose roots at Gould run deep.

Building Foundations for Belonging

This year, the Council focused on foundational work: laying the groundwork for affinity spaces, researching equity audit materials, building partnerships with local schools, and launching a 21-Day Equity Challenge for faculty. We also hosted a neurodiversity workshop for teachers with a focus on dyslexia, developed a more cohesive celebrations and holidays calendar, continued a reflective dominant culture study from last year, and launched Gould’s first affinity space for students who identify as Black. Notably, we also finalized Gould’s Statement on Equity and Belonging.

Looking Outward to Move Forward

In designing this year’s initiatives and working groups, we looked outward: examining what peer schools have done well, where they’ve struggled, and how they’re moving forward in their DEIB journeys. In some areas, Gould may be playing catch-up, but in others, our approach is both innovative and intentional. Our work is grounded in dialogue and collaboration, both within our community and beyond.

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Everyone needs to be involved in order to create spaces where students want to stand up for each other.

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Consensus, Compassion, and Care

The Council operates using a consensus-based model that emphasizes presence and care. We assume positive intent, prioritize active listening, honor passion and compassion, and commit to keeping our decision-making processes intentionally horizontal. Naturally, this approach raises questions—particularly about time and efficiency. Thoughtful decision-making requires time, and in a fast-paced world, that can feel countercultural. But while quick decisions made by a small group may seem efficient, they often lead to limited buy-in and decisions that don’t hold up over time. In contrast, our process may take longer, but the resulting decisions tend to have greater staying power and community investment.

We Move at the Pace of Trust

Our guiding principle is simple: we move at the pace of trust. This ethos has built a strong Council—one that can be trusted to handle complex challenges with care, attention, and confidence. That process was front and center in the year-long development of Gould’s Statement on Equity and Belonging. This winter, the Council partnered with the English Department to ensure every student had a chance to engage with the statement. One student reflected that the message was: “Each person’s specialty is their beauty.” Another wrote: “Everyone needs to be involved in order to create spaces where students want to stand up for each other.” This collaboration confirmed that the statement resonates with our student body—a meaningful milestone. In April, the statement was approved by Gould’s Board of Trustees after the group reviewed it using the same collaborative model. The board’s focus group has been a steadfast partner in the process, ensuring that we’ve taken the time we need to achieve genuine buy-in at the board level. This is a significant moment for Gould. We look forward to using our Equity and Belonging Statement as a guidepost for future Council initiatives, and we hope the spirit of the statement influences other parts of our school—from academics to faculty meetings, from community life to athletics. It sounds like the beginning of something bigger—and it is.

A New Chapter Begins

With a statement in place, Gould has reached a meaningful milestone—but it’s only the beginning. The Council looks forward to using the statement as a guidepost for future initiatives. There’s hope that its values and spirit will shape all areas of campus life—from academics and athletics to residential life and faculty meetings. At Gould, we believe in taking time to build things that last. As this work grows, so will our community—one built on trust, reflection, and the belief that belonging is essential to learning and to life.

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Gould’s Statement on Equity and Belonging

Rooted in our core values of curiosity, courage, kindness, and creativity, the Gould community is committed to developing a culture where we honor our differences and acknowledge lived experience by:

• Embracing diverse perspectives and cultural backgrounds

• Confronting discrimination and bias through education, accountability, and action

• Establishing and regularly reviewing equitable practices and policies

Building and sustaining an inclusive community is a shared responsibility. At Gould, we value diversity in all its forms and are dedicated to creating a culture of belonging where every individual feels seen, respected, and empowered to be their authentic self. When each of us thrives, our community is stronger.