Latin School of Chicago

35 L AT I N S C H O O L O F C H I C A G O How do you feel about faculty being part of your affinity group? PATRICK – e teachers help to bring structure to our discussions. ey also have a real understanding of our experience. Ms. Maajid and Mr. Woods both went through independent schools and they bring a lot of perspective to what we are talking about. JENNA – I am adopted, and my mother is Swedish and Irish and so is her whole family. ere are issues I don't want to talk my family about because they can't fully understand. In a way, the teacher sponsors are like second What is most challenging about being in an affinity group? What has been surprising or powerful about being part of an affinity group? parents. At school there are days that things happen regarding race that really get you down, and you need to talk to someone. You know that your teacher sponsors are going to be there to listen. ERICH – Our teacher sponsors grew up in a time when being queer was completely different. At Latin, especially, we are in such a great space to be open and accepted. From their experiences, we are able to see how far we've come in just our lifetime. ALEXIS – Sometimes students have a hard time understanding what an affinity group is. ey think that we are separating ourselves from the student body, but in fact we are trying to create a safe haven to discuss issues that impact us. PATRICK – My white friends will say, "You can talk to me." I appreciate their support. But some conversations aren't for everyone. Sometimes those friends can't identify with what I am experiencing, and it turns from a conversation into me trying to explain myself. JENNA – You will hear comments like: "I don't like affinity groups because all you do is get together and talk about how much you hate white people," and that isn't it at all. DANIEL – e idea of an affinity group is challenging. People do feel excluded. For people to move beyond that, difficult conversations have to happen. PATRICK– ere is no one remedy to make these conversations easier. ey are going to be uncomfortable. ere are also always going to be people who are cynical. But you have to start somewhere, and I think we are doing that here at Latin. "I feel like being part of an affinity group has made me stronger. It has given me a safe space to explore my own identity." DANIEL – Being at Latin for 14 years, surrounded by the same people and trying to fit in, you can lose yourself. It was only when I got to high school and joined an affinity group that I was able to connect with my non-white side and my heritage. It helped me understand myself better. JENNA – Being part of an affinity group has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and to find more confidence in myself. I became one of the leaders of ASA this year. I would have never considered going on stage to make announcements during assembly, or to speak to the student body, or even to take the initiative to talk to teachers about certain issues. I didn't have the motivation or the confidence. When you get so involved in an issue, you push yourself. It pushed me to join an affinity group outside of school. I joined a group called Our Adopted Daughters of China. I don't think I would have ever reached out to a bigger group like that without being motivated by the ASA to do so. n Q Q Q A A A

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