Equity and Belonging Overview

At Stevens, community and belonging are central to our school values. Through our cooperative model, families, faculty and students build authentic relationships and share a collective sense of purpose and value. These connections are nurtured through a wide range of experiences that foster inclusivity and engagement.

Examples include:

• Families annually select Cooperative jobs, contributing through over 30 active committees.
• Signature events like Cabaret and the International Festival celebrate community, cultural diversity and student voice. 
• Our Reading Buddies and Mentoring programs connect older and younger students to promote literacy, socialization, leadership and personal growth.
• Springsgiving brings the entire school together annually for service learning projects and furthers our partnerships with various community organizations.
• Middle School offers a wide array of electives, clubs, and over 13 Learning & Belonging Groups, allowing students to explore and affirm aspects of their identities, including race, religion, gender, and ethnicity.

Our progressive curriculum blends academic rigor with social-emotional development, empowering students to shape their learning through creative, interdisciplinary and hands-on experiences. Our classrooms encourage voice, critical thinking and global awareness while promoting equity and empathy.

Highlights include:

• Integration of the Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards across all grade levels as a framework for anti-bias education.
• Global connections through:
  • 5th grade science collaboration with a school in Nigeria via Level Up Village
  • Video exchanges with students in Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, and China through Spanish and Mandarin classes
  • 8th grade Mexico City exchange program
• Civic action and community service:
  • Middle School-wide pledge against antisemitism amid rising national hate crimes
  • Ongoing donations of dry goods and childcare supplies to local nonprofits like the York Street Project, Hoboken Shelter, and Welcome Home Jersey City throughout the year

Stevens is committed to continuous improvement and transparency in our DEI efforts. We regularly evaluate our practices, share progress and pursue professional learning to ensure our values are fully lived and sustained.

Key initiatives include:

• DEI Commitment Journal that track progress and identify goals
• Faculty-wide shared readings to support reflection and growth, including:
  • The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
  • See No Stranger by Valarie Kaur
  • White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Ongoing professional development through attendance at national and regional conferences such as:
  • NAIS People of Color Conference
  • White Privilege Conference
  • NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute
  • Widening the Lens Conference
• The Ever Forward strategic plan, originally launched in 2018 and updated in 2025 as Aspire 2030, outlines long-term goals around inclusion, institutional growth and excellence.