What's happening in Affinity Groups lately?

Affinity Groups are one of the exciting parts of the co-curricular program at Overlake and the program is growing and expanding all the time. New groups are forming, groups are meeting cross divisionally connecting students of all ages, and they are continually coming up with new ideas to celebrate their shared identities. Here are some of the inspiring moments of student leadership and meaningful community moments in affinity groups recently. 

• In our Fearlessly Female space, three Upper School students have taken the lead in running the Middle School group, with an adult faculty member providing support. Their enthusiasm and leadership have made the space student-driven and engaging.
• Our Latino/a/e affinity group expanded to welcome Middle School students this year and hosted a vibrant and engaging assembly on music and Latino culture in the fall, getting students on stage in a very fun and inclusive way.
• South Asian students took the initiative to plan and lead a Diwali celebration, blending education and festivity to share their traditions with the community, including bringing staff community members on stage to talk about their personal family traditions.
• Our East Asian affinity space created a meaningful and educational assembly in honor of Americans of Chinese Descent Month, bringing in some incredible Chinese performances and educating our students on how this special WA state legislation was passed (with involvement from our very own Overlake students!)
• Modern Masculinity, one of our growing spaces, sent representatives to the Young Men's Conference at U. Prep, where they explored mental health challenges and sources of strength for young men. They’re eager to bring what they’ve learned back to our community to continue the conversation.
• Recently, our BSU students took a field trip together to see the new Captain America film. They also had a private session with our recent MLK Assembly speaker, Dr. Bell, about community building and advocacy.
• Additionally, many spaces continue to advocate together or engage in community outreach through bake sales or clothing drives.

"These moments reflect how student leadership and initiative are driving the success of our affinity spaces, making them more engaging, educational, and community-centered than ever," says Joanna Guiler, Interim Director of Diversity & Inclusion. 

If you’re on the fence about joining a group, students are encouraged to join anytime! For more questions about affinity groups please reach out to Joanna, jguiler@overlake.org