Equity and Community Engagement

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The Legacy and Future of Black Excellence at Central Catholic

Leila Charleston

Mar 6 2025 8:30 AM

Black History Month is more than a time of reflection—it’s a call to action. Rooted in our Catholic values, we recognize that honoring Black history extends beyond February, reflecting the Church’s call to uphold the dignity of every person. As the U.S. bishops remind us in Open Wide Our Hearts, racism is a “persistent form of evil” that must be actively opposed, and Pope Francis challenges us to share the love that restores meaning in our lives.

At Central Catholic, Black students have built a legacy of resilience and leadership. The Black Student Union (BSU), founded in 2008, continues to foster a strong, supportive community where Black students feel valued, seen, and empowered. Through storytelling, advocacy, and celebration, our students and faculty work to ensure that Black voices and contributions are recognized—not just during Black History Month, but every day.

The Office of Equity and Community Engagement provides students the opportunity to honor and understand the diverse world in which we live, cultivating empathetic effective leaders and agents of change.

We mirror the wider world through the richness of our racial, spiritual, socioeconomic and neurodiversity. We support and empower students from all backgrounds and lived experiences. At Central Catholic, we embrace Catholic Social Teaching in pursuit of justice and peace, by demonstrating the virtue of solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters. We believe that diversity, equity, inclusion and community engagement are at the heart of what we do and that by understanding ourselves and others, we can move with greater purpose. Central Catholic recognizes that we live in an increasingly global community where race, gender, identity, class, and ability all intersect and we must be intentional in recognizing, understanding, and celebrating the differences that make us unique, while fostering the values that we share. At Central Catholic, we work to foster an inclusive environment throughout the school by providing opportunities to engage with classmates from diverse backgrounds to understand and appreciate varying perspectives and opinions. In addition, faculty and staff participate in ongoing professional development to ensure cultural competency. Through education and awareness, the Office of Equity and Community Engagement provides students the opportunity to honor and understand the diverse world in which we live, in cultivating empathetic effective leaders, and agents of change.

Affinity Spaces

Affinity Spaces are spaces of support for a group of people that are specific in their understanding of their similar qualities, needs, ideas, experiences and interests.

Faculty Co-Liberator Affinity Spaces

This is a support group for faculty and staff who are interested in deepening their learning and growth in areas of race and identity.

BIPOC Co-Liberator Affinity Spaces: Faculty that identify as Multiracial, Black, Indigenous, East Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, Arab, Latino/Hispanic.
White Co-Liberator Affinity Spaces: People who identify as white.

BIPOC Affinity Alumni and Student Luncheons

This event gives current students and alumni the opportunity to gather for fellowship, connect, and share stories about CC. These Luncheons provide the opportunity for Alums to see all of the ways their impact, voice, and experiences are continuing to make a difference in our community.

Student-Led Affinity Groups (Click Here)

Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate Statement

In order to ensure that all individuals have access to an education that is free of racism, bias, and other forms of bigotry, and to support the intellectual development and growth of students at Central Catholic High School, we pledge to:

Actively identify and challenge an individual or systemic act of racism and other forms of discrimination and bigotry within the school community, exposing such acts through positive communication.
Express strong declarations of solidarity with those who are in constructed margins or othered, to eradicate forms of racism, bias, and prejudice in spaces of teaching and learning.
Not only promote cultural diversity and expand linguistic knowledge, but explicitly push for anti-racism by creating ongoing learning for students, educators, and parents about countering racism and other forms of bigotry, bias, and prejudice.
Support the implementation, and enforcement of Central Catholic’s code of conduct and policies that provide sanctions against discrimination of racial, ethnic, physical, and mental disability, gender, sexual orientation, and religious and political affiliation in education.

The sole purpose is to create a safe and positive learning environment for all students and staff members, free from any form of micro-aggression, racism, or unconscious bias towards any group of people. We are all encouraged to think before we speak at Central Catholic High School.

Equity and Community Overview

The Central Catholic Equity and Community Engagement Program supports our school’s mission to create an inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist community. Our Program is committed to building a community rooted in equity, liberation and engagement. We are committed to creating and supporting community collaboration, courageous conversations and critical thinking.

Central Catholic is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable community in which all individuals can participate and contribute to the collective life of our school.

Equity-Focused Events

Opportunities

Equity and Community Engagement Program provides students and faculty:

Opportunities for collaboration and courageous conversations.
Provides exposure to different perspectives and social awareness.
Opportunities for collaboration, fellowship and relationship building with other schools and organizations outside of the Central Catholic community.
Helps students, faculty and staff learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives.

Parent Equity Coalition

The Parent Equity Coalition (PEC), is a group of parents who are interested in helping and supporting our Central community through the lens of Equity and Liberation. This is a great way to build parent relationships, stay connected to discussions at school around social justice, and learning more about ourselves and others in the community we share. All parents/guardians are invited to attend.

*Meets 1x a month. Reach out to Melissa Lowery mlowery@centralcatholichigh.org for more information.

Student Affinity Groups (SAs)

Contact Us

Office of Equity and Community Engagement
Melissa Lowery, Director of Equity and Community Engagement
Phone: 503.230.1056, ext. 1246 | E-mail

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In This Section

Equity and Community Engagement

Read Our Newest Article Here

Affinity Spaces

Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate Statement

Equity and Community Overview

Equity-Focused Events

Opportunities

Parent Equity Coalition

Student Affinity Groups (SAs)

Contact Us

Contact Us

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