Since 2021, Kinkaid has had affinity groups with the purpose of fostering safe environments for students who are surrounded by peers who share similar identities.
“It is great because students who are the numerical minority get to have a majority experience,” Mrs. Shotonwa (head of the affinity groups program)said.
The affinity groups represent the “A B C’s”, the A meaning affirming your identity, the B meaning building relationships, and the C meaning cultivate leadership.
“Students are doing all of this while spending time in each affinity group” Shotonwa added.
During belonging week, affinity groups did their third annual affinity group exposition, where they had ice cream Sundays and students learned about the program.
“Our booth was on the commons patio this year” Shotonwa said.
This year the Muslim affinity group has been added to the bunch, creating a space for the Muslim students on campus.
“Because of the many small minority groups at Kinkaid, it is easy for them to feel lost in the shuffle” Ms. Nadine Ghosn, the affinity group sponsor, said.
Going through things that other non-muslim students did not experience inspired students to reach out to a Muslim teacher to sponsor their affinity group.
“They reached out to me to sponsor the affinity group, wanting a safe space to talk” Ghosn stated.
All of the affinity groups are able to foster an environment for students to feel a connection with those who have similarities to them, as well as cultivate leadership skills within the group.
“Affinity groups allow minority students to have the opportunity to lead and serve outside of the whiter community,” Shotonwa said.
Ghosn emphasized the importance of affinity groups overall for each student.
“It’s great to have students with similar backgrounds to have the people they need to talk to” Ghosn further explained.
