Welcome Lunch to Celebrate Diversity

On Saturday, November 5, Grace Church School welcomed new and returning families of color for an afternoon of community, delicious food, and remarks from those at the helm of inclusion efforts at school.
Inspired by Linda Cooper’s Diversity Dinner, the Welcome Lunch was an opportunity for families from diverse backgrounds to meet and create networks of support. 

The Welcome Lunch kicked off with a series of remarks from Grace Church School leaders. Head of School Robbie Pennoyer spoke about Grace’s mission to promote belonging for all students and their families, and Dean Of Equity and Inclusion Jean-Robert Andre recounted Grace’s long tradition of diversity, equity, and antiracism. The newly-appointed Liaison to Families of Color, Maria Capelle-Burny, shared stories of all the different places she spent time as a “Third Culture Kid,” which resonated deeply with the audience.

Chatting over delectable food provided by Barbara Sibley, Grace Trustee and parent, and her crew from Mexican restaurant La Palapa, families connected and enjoyed community-building with one another. Grace’s new and returning families of color walked away with new friendships (as well as boxes of leftover tortillas and brownies). 

The Office of Community Engagement looks forward to keeping this new tradition alive, as it lives Grace’s mission of staying “grounded in tradition and open to innovation.”
Back
© 2022 Grace Church School
Grace Church School is a co-educational independent school in downtown Manhattan, New York City providing instruction for nearly 800 students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12.