Affinity Groups in school settings have long provided opportunities to experience safety and comfort, affirmation, resilience, and empowerment to historically marginalized communities. Learn about their importance in building equitable and inclusive communities, what groups exist and are in formation at Poly, and how to launch or sustain new groups for families, faculty/staff, alums, and more.
APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
Polytechnic Affinity Groups Parents and Guardians
1. Polytechnic School
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
Seattle Girls’ School
Affinity Groups: What, Why, and How
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
3. Agenda
Basic Definitions
Identifying the Value of Affinity Groups
Launching Affinity Groups
Overcoming the Resistance
Strengthening Communities
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
4. Basic Definitions
The term affinity group is used as a
bringing together of people who have an
identifier in common, e.g. race, gender,
religion, family status, etc. Affinity groups
are for individuals who identify as members
of the group and can speak to the
experience of being a member of the group
from the “I” perspective.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
5. Basic Definitions
The term alliance group is used as a
bringing together of people who have a
common commitment to an identifier group,
e.g. race, gender, religion, family status,
etc. Alliance groups are for individuals who
identify as members of the group and/or as
people who support and stand in solidarity
with that group.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
6. Basic Definitions
The term interest group is used as a
bringing together of people who want to
learn about, share, and engage in a special
interest, e.g. hobby, skill, topic, etc.
Interest groups are for individuals who want
to gather to teach, learn, and share.
Membership can be fluid and changing.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
7. Why Affinity Groups Are Great
Safety and Comfort to be
Authentic
Affirmation
Critical Mass
Identity Socialization
Building Resilience
Preparing to Engage
Deeply with Other Groups
Empowerment Toward
Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
8. Stage 1: The Need
Demographics
Recurrent Challenges
Focused Support
Community Desire
Mission Alignment
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
9. Stage 2: Format and Definitions
Affinity, Alliance, or Interest?
Identities/Identifiers
Timing
Space
Facilitators
Group Goals or Mission
Statements
Curriculum
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
10. Stage 3: Communication
Leadership Driven
Need, the What, the How,
and the Who
Definitions, Goals, and
Missions
FAQs
Faculty/Staff,
Parents/Guardians, Students
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
11. Stage 4: Facilitation
Identity Pride
History
Positive Change and
Activism
Opportunities and
Challenges
Strategies for Success
Supporting Each Other
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
13. Possible Affinity Group Curriculum
Culture Share
Celebrations of
Holidays/Events
Identity Exercises
Current Events
Movies
Field Trips
“What Do I Do If…”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
14. Factors Leading to More Success
Pride > Struggle
Deflection of Blame
Inclusive of Full Spectrum
Who’s in the Room
Participant Driven Curricula
Opportunities to Share
Collective Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
15. Factors Leading to Less Success
Lack of Consistency
Lack of Budget
Lack of Curricula
Reinforcement of
Stereotypes
Chauvinism
Leader Agenda
Visitors and Gawkers
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
16. Why Affinity Groups
Meet Resistance
Unacknowledged Fear
of Assembly
Unacknowledged
Resistance to
Empowerment
Desire to Stay Ignorant
of Issues
Privilege
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
17. Forms of Resistance
• False Parallels
• Inverting the Injustice
• Outright Dismissal
• Minimization
• Righteousness
• Colorblindness
• Jealousy
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
18. Talking Points for Affinity Groups
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
19. “Affinity Groups” We Already Have
• Gendered Bathrooms
• Faculty Meetings
• Tracked Classes
• Financial Aid Allocation Meetings
• Sports Teams
• Divisions and Grades
• Casts of School Plays
• Faculty/Staff Rooms
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
20. Equality versus Equity
Everybody gets a shirt versus everybody
gets a shirt that fits.
Giving everybody some insulin in
equality. Giving only people who are
diabetic some insulin is equity.
What is “fair”?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
22. Privilege
“Privilege exists when one group has
something of value that is denied to others
simply because of the groups they belong
to, rather than because of anything they’ve
done or failed to do.”
[as described by Peggy McIntosh and quoted by Allan Johnson]
Privilege is SYSTEMIC. It drives the
systems that dominate our societies.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
23. Situational Advantage
There are prime parking spots and seats
reserved for people with disabilities. People
with disabilities are often first to board
planes and other transportation vehicles.
These advantages are situational and do not
balance out systemic oppression.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
24. Resources
Full resources, web links,
downloadable documents,
considerations, and more:
tiny.cc/affinitygroups
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
26. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
http://tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)