Diversity, Community & Belonging

Diversity, Community & Belonging

In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy and our proud Catholic mission, Bishop Feehan fosters a learning environment founded on faith, compassion and respect for all. To that end, we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive community where diverse backgrounds and voices are recognized, valued and celebrated. 

Committed to fulfilling this mission, Feehan has identified three guiding principles focused on diversity, community and belonging: 

  1. Feehan strives to become a more diverse institution – students, faculty and staff – by purposefully creating a community that reflects the world in which we live. 
  2. Feehan proactively creates a culture and learning environment that is welcoming, nurturing and supportive for all.
  3. Feehan strongly believes that diversity, differing perspectives and experiences strengthen our entire community by promoting confidence, growth and resiliency while also effectively preparing students for the world beyond our hallways.

Building on the priorities laid out in our 2019 Daring to Believe strategic plan and re-emphasized in our 2024 Belong.Believe.Become. strategic plan, Bishop Feehan has implemented several initiatives and programs in the advancement of these guiding principles. 

Feehan faculty and staff actively participate in training and educational opportunities to expand their knowledge and broaden their experiences. They have successfully completed professional development training in partnership with the New England Office of the Anti-Defamation League. Efforts to offer new resources and training programs to further deepen faculty and staff understanding on how to support the Feehan community are continually explored and implemented. 

Our campus wide student organization, No Place for Hate, engages students and mentors in dialogue and active learning on topics of bias, bullying, inclusion and allyship to help build an active community of inclusivity, respect and equity. 

The Feehan Multicultural Association provides students with a space where they can connect with others who share similar backgrounds and ethnicities. It fosters an atmosphere of respect and belonging and promotes a greater understanding of diverse cultures and backgrounds. In collaboration with No Place for Hate, the Association supports our Heritage Week celebration, Black History month presentations and leads an Rock Talk series. 

Our boldest initiative yet, is Bishop Feehan’s Ignite, Support & Empower (ISE). This is a formal set of commitments supporting students of color and first generation college students. It is intended to promote Feehan as the preferred high school choice for local students of color seeking a faith filled college preparatory high school experience by offering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity. Learn more here about Feehan’s Ignite, Support & Empower (ISE) initiative.

With the knowledge that we live in an ever changing world, Bishop Feehan recognizes that, together, we are on a journey… and there is more work to do. As such, we remain steadfast to our commitment to continue to explore, evaluate and implement measures that produce real and lasting change  in support of diversity, community and belonging at Bishop Feehan and beyond.

Have more questions about Feehan’s Diversity, Community and Belonging efforts? Noel Grant, Vice Principal of Student Life & Director of ISE, is spearheading the charge in optimizing Feehan’s culture for all and welcomes the opportunity to connect further. [email protected] or 508-226-6223