Community

DEIJ

    • Banner

Roeper’s Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

Equity and justice are the foundation of the Roeper Philosophy as described and defined by the school’s founders, George and Annemarie Roeper.
Diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice are not standalone concepts that pay lip service to current trends in contemporary culture. These values are integral to everything we do at Roeper.

The following definitions were developed and adopted by our DEIJ Committee of the Board:
  • Diversity are our differences that matter.
  • Equity gives full access to opportunities and meets the needs of specific individuals and groups.
  • Inclusion means belonging—welcomes and values all members and perspectives.
  • Justice is equity, love, and compassion.

Justice requires that we respect the dignity and worth of every individual by providing an equal opportunity for those to whom opportunities have been historically denied. At Roeper, we believe that our cooperative community respects and embraces diversity, thereby emphasizing the relationship between the individual and the community. In discussing the dynamic relationship between the individual and the Roeper community, our philosophy states, “This interrelationship is founded upon respecting the inherent dignity of every human being; believing in human rights for all people . . . embracing the beauty of diversity; positively valuing differences; and recognizing the essential interdependence of all living things.”

We value the voices of all members of our community. We continue to work at creating an environment that is safe and welcoming to all—a place where everyone feels represented and heard.

The Roeper School admits students without regard to ethnicity, gender, cultural background, religion, or sexual orientation, and entitles them to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

List of 6 items.

  • Anti-Racism Resolution

    In 1941, after being forced to flee their home in Germany, George and Annemarie Roeper moved to Michigan and founded The Roeper School. At a time when the Nazis were shattering democratic systems across Europe, the Roepers understood they could not be silent. As religious refugees from totalitarianism, the Roepers experienced firsthand the consuming power of hate, bigotry, and prejudice that forced them into exile. They established The Roeper School as a place where students could develop their voices and stand against authoritarian injustice, a place where human rights would be held in esteem, and where a commitment to humanism would shape the community that needed to be built.  
     
    To read the full resolution, click on The Roeper School Board of Trustees Anti-Racism Resolution 2021.
  • Multicultural Leadership Team

    The Multicultural Leadership Team (MLT) is an advisory and action group of faculty and administrators committed to supporting the multicultural-related work and experiences within the community.

    This team guides programming and creates recommendations regarding policy and practice to ensure that our school sustains and expands its growth as an intentionally inclusive, preschool through grade 12 multicultural community.
  • Affinity Groups

    An affinity group is one which brings people together 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.
    Read More
  • Programs and Partnerships

    Roeper’s commitment to diversity drives its support for programs that foster community awareness and encourage students, faculty/staff, and families to experience culturally diverse immersion.
    Read More
  • Alliances & Student Unions

    • Black Student Union (BSU)
    • UMatter Club
    • Student Diversity Advisory Committee
    • Banana Splits
    • Jewish Student Union
    • Sexuality and Gender Equality (SAGE)
    • Neurodiversity Alliance
  • Report a Bias Incident

    While we work to implement an online reporting system, we know that people have experiences of bias now and we want to provide a means for reporting immediately while our online system gets developed. This interim process is intended to help connect people who’ve experienced bias with a dedicated person who can serve in a supportive capacity to help process the incident and determine what the next steps might be. 
     
    To report an incident, please complete the brief form posted on the DEIJ section on the Resource Board and submit it to one of the contacts listed on that page.

Contact Info

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Carolyn Lett

    Carolyn Lett 

    Director, Diversity and Community Programs
    (248) 203-7327
In partnership with Eton Academy, Roeper welcomed Jonathan Mooney, celebrated author of Normal Sucks, speaker, and activist for neurodiversity and the disability rights movement, for a talk with educators and the parent community.

The talk opens with a welcome from Head of School Christopher Federico. Liliana Schechter, 2023 alumna and founder of the Neurodiversity Alliance student group, introduces guest Jonathan Mooney, and Head of Eton Academy Pete Cullen closes the event.

List of 4 items.

  • 32%

    of students are students of color
  • $2.9M +

    Over $2.9 million in Financial Aid & Scholarship awarded annually
  • 19%

    of our faculty/staff are people of color
  • 55

    Students come from over 55 different school districts

Let's Celebrate

List of 5 items.

  • MLK Jr. Celebration and Candlelight Walk

    Roeper's MLK Celebration and Candlelight Walk is an evening devoted to honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. For over 30 years, we have welcomed people from all over metro Detroit to celebrate in the Martin Luther King, Jr Domes on our Bloomfield Hills campus.
  • Diversity Film Series

    The Diversity Film Series launched in March 2006. Members of the school diversity committee saw a film festival as an ideal way to showcase a wide range of writers, directors, actors, and stories that celebrate diversity, as well as an outreach to communities beyond Roeper.

    Past films have included
    The Cleaning Lady, The Grace Lee Project, Detroit Unleaded, and Shalom Y’all.
  • Cultural Exploration Day

    Guided by faculty advisors, student diversity groups organize experiential programming to raise awareness of the many facets and benefits of diversity. Students choose from workshops provided by leaders in the community to gain exposure on topics such as Arab relations, the LGBQT community, racial bias in the judicial system, and challenges faced by physically disabled people. 
  • Make A Splash

    The mission of Make A Splash is to break the dangerous generational cycle of non-swimming in diverse communities. Through the generous support of The Roeper School and other donors, affordable swim lessons are offered to as many children as possible. This program affects positive change through education by teaching the life-saving skill of swimming. Children receive personalized instruction with a 1:6 teacher to student ratio. 
  • Observances and Celebrations

    Students from the diversity group, UMOJA, take the lead every February to highlight the accomplishments of different African Americans through the use of posters, videos, and other media. 

    More information to follow.

Timeline

List of 5 items.

  • 1942

    Integrated faculty
  • 1955

    Became the first integrated independent school 
  • 1970

    Domes were dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr.
  • 1987

    First African American Roeper Administrator
  • 2004

    First Person of Color Head of School

George A. Roeper, Founder, 1962

The search for differences in the world and the effort to understand them will prepare a fertile ground for abundant creativity. Intelligence only helps to make use of it. 
Educating and inspiring gifted students to think as individuals and to engage as a community with compassion for each other and this world.

Bloomfield Campus

Lower School and Administrative Offices
41190 Woodward Ave Bloomfield Hills MI 48304
PHONE  248.203.7330

Birmingham Campus