DEI Community Engagement

DEI Community Engagement and Announcements

All DEI Community Engagement efforts and announcements on workshops and events will be posted on this webpage. Please check back for more details, and be on the look out for information shared in our weekly newsletter, Mosaique.

Questions or Suggestions?

If you have any feedback or questions about our DEI strategies and efforts, Community Engagement, or upcoming events, please do not hesitate to contact our Director of Admissions and Diversity, Juliette Lange.
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DEI Community Engagement in Retrospect

Welcome to our retrospective DEI webpage. This takes up where our public Diversity, Equity, Inclusion webpage leaves off: Our Commitment for the Future. It collects our events and our efforts in this area since our Charter was published in early 2021.  

Our Charter was crafted by the Board’s DEI Subcommittee which included parent volunteers as well as Board, faculty, and staff members. Its aim was to set out a road map for our LILA community moving forward. This page records/keeps us accountable for the work we set out for ourselves. We saw this work as being multifaceted and needed to include an ongoing review of the curriculum, an expansion of education and skill building, offering our faculty and staff an opportunity and a platform for free discussion and exploration of issues around diversity and our responsibility to offer our parents education in this area. 

It also needed to include our community. With this in mind and in response from parents passionate about creating a culture that values difference, Parents for an Inclusive LILA came on board.  This alliance meets about three times a year and welcomes everyone. The aim is both to communicate LILA’s DEI efforts and to encourage parental input and involvement. From this group have come several parent-led and parent-run initiatives, including the following: our Affinity Groups, our What is Allyship? book club and The Bookshelf, a collection of titles for families looking to bring more belonging, inclusion, identification, and diversity into their home libraries. To know more, please click on the hyperlinks above.

We have organized this page so that our most recent events and efforts appear first. These will have appeared in our weekly campus-specific newsletters, the Mosaique. Do reach out to Juliette Lange, Director of Admissions and Diversity if you have any questions, suggestions or would like to volunteer your time and involvement. 

DEI Community Engagement: Month at a Glance

March 2023

• Women’s History Month
What is Allyship? Bookclub
• The Bookshelf highlighted Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month
Each campus of LILA celebrated Women’s History Month in March. Burbank held an assembly on Tuesday, March 8 to honor historical female figures. The Burbank campus also celebrated two female students via assembly held on Tuesday, March 28. These two students were awarded a certificate for the HoS Essay Writing Competition. Other campuses shared books, movies, and conversations surrounding Womens History Month.

What is Allyship? Bookclub
LILA’s What Is Allyship? Book Club is met on Tuesday, March 28 from 7:30pm – 8:30pm to discuss and understand inequality and allyship. Parents shared reviews about Zora Neale Hurston’s “Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” and Netflix’s “Descendant” by Margaret Brown based on the work of Zora Neale Hurston. 

The Bookshelf highlighted Women’s History Month
The Bookshelf offers a range of titles for families looking to bring more belonging, inclusion, identification, and diversity into their home libraries. Our March 2023 recommendations highlight Women’s History Month. Open The Bookshelf to find out why our very own Bourgoing dos Santos Family recommends Don’t Touch My Hair” by Sharee Miller.

February 2023

• Black History Month
• Parents for an Inclusive LILA Meeting
• Faculty and Staff for an Inclusive LILA Meeting
Adult French Classes

• Curious about International Track and French Track?
• Student Ambassador Led Tours of Burbank

Black History Month
February marks our celebration of Black History month. Each campus honored Black History Month with books, read-aloud days, artwork, discussions, and sharing stories. Burbank celebrated BHM with a film screening  ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ The Raoul Peck documentary on James Baldwin, followed by a panel discussion on Thursday, February 9 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Los Feliz shared insight on the importance of Black History Month in their very special edititon of LILA News. Please click here to see what the students got to report on the topic.

Parents for an Inclusive LILA Meeting
Our second Parents for an Inclusive LILA meeting was held online Monday, February 13 from 5:00pm – 6:00pm. Our alliance welcomes every LILA parent interested in engaging with our efforts to build a culture that values difference and fosters inclusivity and a sense of belonging for all.

Faculty and Staff for an Inclusive LILA
Faculty and Staff for an Inclusive LILA met for their second meeting online on Monday, February 6 from 6:15pm – 7:15pm.

Adult French Classes
Parents interested in taking Adult French classes with the Alliance Française de Pasadena were offered classes at the beginner level through the advanced level. The classes continue to take place weekly online and also offer a feel for French culture. Learn more about the classes here.

Curious about International Track and French Track?
On Friday, February 10 at 9:30am, LILA held an in-person Intro to Burbank event to discuss the difference between the international track and french track. Led by Juliette Lange, Director of Admissions, students and parents were given a refresher on the two options, as well as information about which universities LILA students have attended.

Student Ambassador Led Tours of Burbank
Back by popular demand, Student Ambassador-led tours are being offered on following Wednesday dates: February 15, March 22, April 26, and May 17 at 4:30pm. Parents and kids continued to be invited to visit the Burbank campus and ask questions to current 11th graders about their experience of middle and high school.

January 2023

What is Allyship? Bookclub
• International Track at LILA Presentation
• Adult French Classes
Academic Calendar for 2023 – 2024

The Bookshelf featured the Moreno family

What is Allyship? Bookclub
LILA’s What Is Allyship? Book Club is a group of parents who are curious to understand and discuss inequality and allyship. We had an insightful and productive conversation at this month’s meeting, which took place Tuesday, January 17 from 7:30pm – 8:30pm. Those who attended were ask to read “The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation” by Anna Malaika Tubbs, and/or watch Anna’s Ted Talk “How Moms Shape the World”.

International Track at LILA Presentation
Friends of rising 9th,10th, or 11th-grade students were invited to an online informational event held by Juliette Lange on Thursday, January 19 at 2:00pm and Monday, January 23 at 9:30am ahead of the application deadline of Tuesday, January 31. Juliette, Director of Admissions, presented the 9th and 10th-grade preparatory course, and explained the benefits of the IB Diploma Program. For more information about the International Track and future presentation dates, do invite them to explore our international high school microsite here.

Adult French Classes
Parents interested in taking Adult French classes with the Alliance Française de Pasadena are still offered classes at the beginner level through advanced level. The classes take place weekly online and also offer a feel for French culture. Learn more about the classes here.

Academic Calendar for 2023 – 2024
Our 2023-2024 Academic Calendar was updated at the start of the new year and is available here. Please download a copy today for an overview of next school year’s cultural events and workshops.

The Bookshelf featured the Moreno family
The Bookshelf offers a range of titles for families looking to bring more belonging, inclusion, identification, and diversity into their home libraries. The Bookshelf includes a wide range of parent-recommended children’s books since it was launched in January 2021 as part of our Parents for an Inclusive LILA Alliance. The Bookshelf is an effort led entirely by parents. 

This month, The Bookshelf featured the Moreno Family. They recomended Beautiful Girl: Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body by Christiane Northrup and Kristina Tracy and Good Night Rebel Girls 2 by Elena Favilli and Francesco Cavallo.

December 2022

Faculty and Staff for and Inclusive LILA
• Burbank Student Ambassador Led Tours
• The Bookshelf featured the Bowes-Little family

Faculty and Staff for an Inclusive LILA
Faculty and Staff for an Inclusive LILA met for their second meeting online on Monday, December 5 from 6:15pm – 7:15pm.

Burbank Student Ambassador Led Tours
This month, LILA’s high school Student Ambassadors offered a tour on Wednesday, December 7 at 4:30pm. Students in 4th or 5th grade looking ahead to middle school were invited to visit and walk the Burbank campus learning about first-hand experiences and future goals.

The Bookshelf featured the Bowes-Little family
The Bookshelf offers a range of titles for families looking to bring more belonging, inclusion, identification, and diversity into their home libraries. The Bookshelf includes a wide range of parent-recommended children’s books since it was launched in January 2021 as part of our Parents for an Inclusive LILA Alliance. The Bookshelf is an effort led entirely by parents. 

This month, the Bowes-Little Family recommended Look Up with Me: Neil Degrass Tyson: A Life Among the Stars by Jennifer Berne, Lorraine Nam, and Nail Degrasse Tyson and Oulala, chasseur de lions by Zemonel and Peggy Nille. Their recommendations highlighted International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the holiday spirit of generosity, kindness, and charity. 

November 2022

• Parents for an Inclusive LILA Meeting
• Faculty and Staff for an Inclusive LILA
• What is Allyship? Book Club
• Calling families of Jewish Heritage
• Native American Heritage Month
The Bookshelf featured the Carleton family

Parents for an Inclusive LILA meeting
Our first Parents for an Inclusive LILA meeting was held online Monday, November 14 at 5:00pm. Our alliance welcomes every LILA parent interested in engaging with our efforts to build a culture that values difference and fosters inclusivity and a sense of belonging for all.

Faculty and Staff for an Inclusive LILA
Faculty and Staff for an Inclusive LILA met for their first meeting on Monday, November 7 from 6:15pm – 7:15pm. Andrea Ayala, English teacher at the West Valley campus, has taken the leadership role together with Campus Director, Soniar Gmar.  

LILA’s What is Allyship? Bookclub
LILA’s What is Allyship? Bookclub held their first meeting on November 15 from 7:30pm and 8:30pm. Parents were asked to read The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander and/or watch the documentary 13th by Ava DuVernay

Calling Families of Jewish Heritage
A new group was recently formed to bring together those of Jewish heritage. Those interested facilitated some off-campus cultural activities and discussions. 

Native American Heritage Month
November marks our celebration of Native American Heritage month. Each campus honored those of Native American Hertiage with books, artwork, and sharing stories. 

The Bookshelf featured the Carleton family
The Bookshelf this month featured the Carleton family. Their favorite in honor of their own Native American heritage is The Legends of the Blue Bonnet: an Old Tale of Texas by Tomie DePaola.

October 2022

• Assemblies – Monique Marshall Workshop
• Affinity Group Welcome Picnics
• The Bookshelf featured the Morales family

Assemblies – Monique Marshall Workshop
This month we announced the implementation of regular assemblies on our elementary campuses. Assemblies have been in place at our middle and high school at Burbank for many years. They help share information with students, develop a feeling of unity, create school spirit and encourage learning in new ways. They are a prime opportunity to teach lessons in diversity, accountability, leadership, and responsibility. Assemblies provide a forum for students to learn how to act when they are in a large group of people and provide the opportunity for students to develop their confidence by speaking up and sharing their ideas.

To kick off this new initiative at our elementary campuses, our first guest speaker, Monique Marshall, came in today to speak to our students about belonging, kindness, stereotypes and for the older children to understand macroaggressions. Monique Marshall, founder, and principal of Monique Marshall, Strategy and Consulting, LLC. has been working with our teachers both at our whole school in-service days and separately at each of the campuses. Monique was also our guest for our parent education series ‘Dialogues on Diversity’ last month offering in-person workshops.

Monique has over 30 years’ of experience with faculty, students, parents, and community members and is informed by questions such as: What actions are we taking for the health and well-being of all of our students, faculty, staff, and families? How are we equipping ourselves to look inward, learn about ourselves and others, and develop anti-bias, anti-racist language, and practice? How are we moving away from colorblindness and toward awareness, unlearning the fear of noticing, naming, and embracing racial and other kinds of differences? We look forward to developing this initiative.

Affinity Group Welcome Picnics
Our affinity groups were able for the first time since their creation in the pandemic, to meet in-person.  LILA’s Middle Eastern Affinity Group met for a potluck on Sunday, November 6 from 11:00am – 2:00pm. LILA’s LGBTQ Affinty group met for a Welcome Back Family Picninc on Sunday, October 23 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm. LILA’s Black Affinity Group met on the same day from 3:30pm – 5:30pm for a Welcome Group Picnic.

The Bookshelf featured the Morales family
The Bookshelf this month featured the Morales family. Their book Bolivia (Blastoff Readers: Exploring Countries) by Lisa Owings.

September 2022

• The Bookshelf featured the Aten-Hall family

The Bookshelf featured the Aten-Hall family
The Bookshelf this month featured the Aten-Hall family. Their favorite book is Why Do I Get All the Kisses? By Sundra Oakley.

June 2022

• The Bookshelf featured the Roman family

The Bookshelf featured the Roman family
The Bookshelf this month featured the Roman family. Their favorite book is It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr.