In our mission statement, we pledge to graduate students who are at “ease beyond their borders”;
that is, students who have the cultural competencies necessary to engage with and serve in communities other than their own.
Whether those borders are defined by race, culture, physical ability, socio-economic background, gender, sexual orientation or any other measures of identity,
Avenues equips its students to connect across differences and embrace access for all—both in and out of the classroom.

Community Engagement and DEI

At Avenues, community engagement and DEI are complementary initiatives that support students to pursue social impact work on a local and global scale. Through hands-on experience with our community partners, students learn to lead with empathy and put DEI principles into practice.
Within the walls of Avenues campuses, there is a tangible desire to connect with and honor the experiences of those outside. Our community engagement programs are built on respect, communication and a desire to see one another in all our humanity.
Corey Watlington
Deputy Head of School
The World School Difference

Global Perspectives on DEI

As one school with many campuses around the world, diversity is a defining feature of Avenues. Our conversations around DEI happen on a global scale between students, faculty and leadership across our community. By taking a global perspective in our capacity as diversity practitioners, we challenge ourselves to transcend the limits of our local viewpoints–a process that often takes us well outside our comfort zones, but ultimately allows us to expand our capacity for empathy.
For me, the key to DEI work is humility. We often go into situations thinking we know, but unless we’re truly listening, we don’t know, and if we can acknowledge that, we can do better. That’s why at Avenues, we encourage students to lead and develop these initiatives.
Angela Xu
Head of School