Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice

Painted rocks with inspirational words and phrases on them.

Our Commitment—The Saints Promise

The Canterbury community pledges to build and sustain a diverse, equitable, inclusive, safe, and just community that is founded upon, inspired by, and held accountable to our Five Values.

Canterbury’s values and infrastructure create the opportunities for us to teach and challenge our students to think more broadly, take care of one another more deeply, and work at playing a true role in social justice more proactively, personally, and genuinely. It is these very values and infrastructure that welcomed student voices in recent years, voices that identified programming and 'spaces' our students need for conversation, affirmation, and action.

Honesty

Building character and courage to stay true to ourselves and others.

We pledge to:

Create both physical and emotional space for difficult conversations and acknowledge that the first step is often learning to be comfortable with topics we find uncomfortable
Acknowledge and address our individual biases

Respect

Learning each other’s stories and treating all with dignity.

We pledge to:

Work to know one another as individuals and acknowledge/empower the personal identities we each choose to share, including: one’s name, story, passions, native language, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual identity, cultural heritage, ability, and faith tradition
Stand for equity and justice and stand actively against inequity and injustice
Be open to new ideas and perspectives
Celebrate accomplishments and encourage continued growth

Compassion

Being fully and humbly present so that we may empathize with others.

We pledge to:

Create opportunities to hear the voices and listen to the opinions of one another
Learn and grow from our mistakes

Spirituality

Growing in faith through reflection and service.

We pledge to:

Encourage the development of ethical leadership
Inspire a journey of spirituality and service grounded by one’s faith background

Self-Reliance

Developing strength and independence to become intellectual and ethical leaders in a complex world.

We pledge to:

Hold ourselves and one another accountable as contributing, present, involved members of the Saints community, always working for the good of one another and our School
Help prepare our students for the breadth and depth of diversity they will encounter beyond our hilltop, and build personal connections that they can carry forward as alumni

DEIJ Programs at Canterbury

D'Amour Center for Faith, Service & Justice

Social Justice Series

Canterbury’s Social Justice Series, a signature initiative of the D’Amour Center for Faith, Service & Justice, reflects our commitment to helping you become a person of integrity, empathy, and purpose. Through this series, you’ll engage thoughtfully with real-world questions—exploring human experience and ethical leadership through personal stories, guest speakers, and open dialogue. Rooted in Canterbury’s Catholic heritage and mission-driven values, the Social Justice Series encourages you to listen with humility, reflect deeply, and lead with compassion. Read more...

Saints on the Hill

Student Affinity Groups

Canterbury offers a variety of student-led groups focused on increasing awareness, understanding, and cultural appreciation. Following is a list of current clubs and student groups:

Women of Canterbury: Formed in 1992; Canterbury's longest-running affinity group
CDIC (Canterbury Diversity and Inclusion Club): Formed in 2016 by students; this group later transitioned to AHANA (see below)
Interfaith Council: Formed in 2017
AHANA (students of African/Hispanic/Asian/Native American heritage): Formed in 2019 by and for students of color
GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance): Formed in 2019 by students
JSA (Jewish Student Association): Formed in 2021 by students

Climate Survey & Exit Interviews

In February 2020, we administered a Climate Survey to measure student perceptions around community, belonging, and inclusion. The survey has been repeated annually since then.
In 2019 we began interviewing all Sixth Formers before they graduate to learn about their experience, including their sense of belonging while students at Canterbury. These interviews are conducted annually.

Diversity within Canterbury encompasses race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, religion, intellectual and physical ability, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, family structure, language, and geographic place of origin.