Community and Belonging

Affinity, Alliance and Interest groups are extracurricular spaces for students and parents with a shared identity/background/experience, commitment, or interest to assemble. Often times, these groups are centered around racial and cultural heritages, religious backgrounds, gender identities and/or sexual orientation, neuro, and/or physical diversity. As a community we will continue to identify and expand to include more marginalized groups in our affinity/alliance/interest group program.

Student affinity/alliance/interest groups include the Adopted Students affinity group, APISA (Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian) affinity group, Black Awareness Club (BAC), Cultural Awareness Club, Diverse Family Structures affinity group, Jewish Awareness Club, Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), and Neurodiversity alliance group. These student groups often host events, such as holiday celebrations and movie nights, and chapel services throughout the school year.  

Parent affinity groups include the African American Parent Affinity Group, Asian Pacific Islander South Asian Parent Affinity Group, Jewish Affinity Group, and LGBTQ Affinity Group. Families also have the opportunity to join St. Paul’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Parent Advisory Committee. 

SPSG Upper school Affinity Groups

• Adopted Students 
• Asian Pacific Islander South Asian Students (APISA, SPSG/SP Coordinated) ​
• Black/African American Students​
• Jewish Students ​
• Different Family Structures ​
• Hispanic/Latine Students 

SPSG Upper school Alliance/Interest Groups

• Learning Differences Student Alliance Group 

• Inclusivity Council ​

• Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA, SPSG/SP Coordinated) ​
• Jewish Awareness Club ​
• Black Awareness Club (BAC) ​
• Cultural Awareness Club ​
• Disability Awareness Club 

SPSG Middle school Affinity Groups

• Adopted Students 
• Asian Pacific Islander South Asian Students (APISA)
• Black/African American Students ​
• Jewish Students  
• Hispanic/Latine Students ​
• Different Family Structures 

SPSG Middle school Alliance/Interest Groups

• Rainbow Alliance 
• Neurodiversity Alliance Group ​
• Inclusivity Council 

SP Middle School Affinity/Alliance/Interest Groups

• Black Awareness Club (BAC)

• LGBTQ+ Awareness Club (LAC)

• Interfaith Awareness Club (IAC)

SP UPPER SCHOOL Affinity/Alliance/Interest Groups

• Asian Pacific Islander South Asian Affinity Group

• Black Awareness Club

• Gender Sexuality Alliance

• Hispanic Awareness Club

• Jewish Awareness Club

Parent Affinity Groups

• African American/Black Families
• Allies
• Asian Pacific Islander South Asian Families 
• Hispanic/Latine Families
• Immigrant Families 
• Jewish Families 
• LGBTQ+ Families 
• Multiracial Families
• Families of Neurodiverse Children 
• Families of Children with Disabilities
• Families of Adopted Children

Bridges Baltimore was founded on The St. Paul's Schools campus in 1993. For more than a decade, our students have volunteered with Bridges to support the long-term success of Baltimore City youth. St. Paul’s students mentor, tutor, and act as camp counselors for Baltimore City students ages 9 and up. 

 

Sister-to-Sister and Brother-to-Brother are mentorship and fellowship programs for students of color run by upper school students for lower school students. Students involved in these programs participate in engaging, hands-on activities and projects throughout the year. The program gives lower school students the opportunity to spend time with and learn from SP and SPSG students, while upper school students gain leadership and mentoring experience. 

As an Episcopal school, our mission calls us to welcome, love, and affirm every member of our community. Faculty and staff routinely engage in professional development opportunities centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion to advance this mission. Employees have traveled across the country to attend conferences such as the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Diversity Leadership Institute and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference. Faculty and staff also participate in on-campus professional development opportunities such as LGBTQ+ Safe Space Trainings. 

The St. Paul’s Schools hosts a range of events centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Such events include King’s Vision Day (KVD) and our International Block Party. Additionally, we host academic lessons, chapel services, and extracurricular activities such as lunches and movie nights in honor of holidays such as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Black History Month, Diwali, Hannukah, and Martin Luther King Day. Guest speakers are often invited to campus to discuss DEI topics with our students and faculty. 

Please reference the calendar on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage or visit the school calendar webpage to learn more about upcoming events. 

International Block Party

St. Paul’s International Block Party is a celebration of our community’s many cultures and traditions! Hosted by the Parents Association, this event features delicious meals, traditional cultural attire, and vibrant dances and demonstrations from students and local groups. 

King’s Vision Day

King’s Vision Day (KVD) is an annual St. Paul’s event to commemorate and reflect upon the legacy and vision of the pivotal civil rights leader. KVD features a film festival featuring selections related to Dr. King’s message, engaging discussions, and a keynote address from guest speakers. Past KVD guest speakers have included St. Paul’s alumnus Dr. Omer Awan ’99, former Olympian Greg Harell, and Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway, Sr., former senior pastor at Union Baptist Church and lifelong civil rights activist.