2025 Welcome Lunch for Families of Color
On September 13, 2025, over 100 members of Grace’s community gathered for the Welcome Lunch for Families of Color. This 40-year-old annual tradition is open to the entire Grace community and is hosted in partnership with the Office of Community Engagement, the Office of Admissions and Enrollment, and the Families of Color Parent Group. The event was first launched by Linda Cooper, former assistant to the head of school, to strengthen the School’s efforts to nurture a culture of dignity and belonging for all, and it continues to do so today, bringing together families from across the Grace community.
In attendance on Saturday were new, returning, and alumni families as well as faculty and staff. Former ICC chair and parent of alumnae, Barbara Sibley, graciously catered the event with food from her restaurant, La Palapa. Alumna Brigitt M. ’22 performed “I'm Still Standing,” accompanied by Grace’s Vocal Music Director, Andrew Leonard. Former board member and co-founder of the FOC, Reneé Noel, was in attendance alongside current FOC heads Robin McCoy and Omar Washington. They were joined by high school faculty liaisons to the OCE Jennifer Tashman and Jessica Prohías Gardiner, the OCE team of Jean-Robert André and Antonella Dominguez, and the Admissions team, who spoke of the robust resources available to families.
Thank you to all that made the lunch possible! This event is a pillar of the OCE’s programming, committed to Grace’s mission of broad welcome and deep belonging.
© 2025 Grace Church School
Grace Church School is a co-educational independent school in downtown Manhattan, New York City providing instruction for over 800 students in junior kindergarten through twelfth grade.
