What is Dignity, Belonging, and Justice at Fordham Prep?
Every person, even and especially the smallest and most fragile, is loved by God and has a place in the Church and in the world.
Pope Francis
A Message from Randall Pedro,
P'17,'21, Director of DBJ
Justice is at the heart of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Fordham Prep.
Justice has the potential to be a wide-ranging abstract construct. Many people equate justice with being a "good" or "fair" person. To conceptualize justice in a way that becomes the core of our experiences, I find reflecting on Fr. David Fleming, SJ's, the modern-language version of the Principle and Foundation of Spiritual Exercises, extremely helpful; "Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want, and I choose what better leads to God's deepening his life in me." Embracing this deepening transforms us and can transform our society.
Mission Statement
The Diversity, Belonging, and Justice program at Fordham Prep fosters an environment rooted in justice, recognizing and valuing the dignity of every individual. We aim to promote belonging through authentic interactions and the practice of active listening, ensuring that every voice is heard and understood. Our community's active participation empowers us to confront societal divisions and embrace each other as reflections of God's love.
Vision Statement
We envision a Fordham Prep community where everyone is empowered to share their stories and experience a sense of belonging as part of a collective effort to promote Cura Personalis and Cura Apostolica. Through this inclusive culture and our deeply rooted Ignatian vision, we aspire to cultivate, educate, and build a community where we see no other, promote the dignity of every individual, and recognize all as part of God's collective family.
Dignity, Belonging, & Justice in Action
As part of this important work, Fordham Prep has developed a four-year Dignity, Belonging, and Justice (DBJ) program for students. Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching and the Four Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus, DBJ aims to ensure a student experience and environment in which young men are welcomed to our community, valued for all their gifts, personal histories and backgrounds, appropriately challenged, and protected from bias and discrimination for any reason.
Dignity
Helps students recognize all people are made in the image and likeness of God and so possess an equal and inalienable worth.
Belonging
Ensures students see Fordham Prep as a place where differences are welcomed, different perspectives are respectfully heard and every individual is a valued member of the community.
Justice
Inspires students to engage in serious conversation with all our brothers and sisters and to act when we see inequity.
DBJ Programs
- Block Party
- Diversity Alliance
- Community Dialogues
- DBJ Workshops
- Faculty and Staff Professional Development
- Wanda M. Piñeiro, P’99 Award
- The George Jackson ’76 Initiative
- For information, please click here
Meet The Dignity, Belonging, & Justice Team
Carolyn Wright
Titles:
Associate Director of Campus Ministry for Social Justice Initiatives, Assistant Director of Dignity, Belonging, and Justice
