Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

For 475 years, Jesuit education has formed intellectual, moral, and spiritual people toward lives of solidarity and advocacy (i.e., people with and for others) across the globe. The Office of DEI invites the entire JHS community to engage academically and socially to better understand themselves and their local and global context within a social justice lens. Using the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, a teaching model to listen, learn, reflect, and act, the intention is to form conscious, critical, and compassionate leaders.

Who We Are

Social Justice Week

Social Justice Week is an opportunity to intentionally focus on issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through the lens of human dignity.

Faces of Jesuit

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office sits down with current Jesuit students to discuss culture, heritage, identity and more in our Faces of Jesuit article series.

Who We Serve

Romero Scholars:

Inspired by Saint Oscar Romero of El Salvador, the Romero Scholar Program supports students of qualified financial need to receive equitable access to academic and social resources. This program focuses on the values of inclusion and belonging and empowers students to become intellectually competent advocates for and with others beyond their time at Jesuit High School.

First Generation College Bound Students:

First Generation students are students whose parent(s) did not complete the equivalent of a 4-year Bachelor’s degree or higher. First-generation students may be eligible for unique college services, scholarships, and outreach programs starting as early as 9th grade.

Currently, there are 111 First Generation students, or 8.6% of the entire school (2023-24).

First Generation programming includes a "College 101" workshop for freshmen, college visits to the University of Portland and University of Oregon for sophomores and juniors, and a bilingual FAFSA workshop for seniors.

Spanish Speaking Families:

Para asistencia en español y traducción, envíe un correo electrónico a apoyo@jesuitportland.org.

Why We Do This Work

Jesuit High School Mission & Identity:

Jesuit High School Mission
Men and Women with and for Others: A phrase coined by Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J. used to describe the hope for students educated in the Jesuit tradition
Universal Apostolic Preferences: Four themes (showing the way to God, walking with the excluded, journeying with youth, and caring for our common home) that all Jesuit institutions across the world will focus on from 2019 to 2029.
Profile of the Jesuit High School Graduate: 5 characteristics that Jesuit students should embody, used at all Jesuit secondary institutions across the nation.

Resources from Jesuits & the Jesuit Schools Network:

Our Way of Proceeding: Domain 5: Required mission driven work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the Jesuit Schools Network
Jesuit West Provincial Letter: July 16, 2020 (Scott Santarosa, S.J.)
Jesuit West Provincial Letter: October 26, 2021 (Sean Carroll, S.J.)
The Characteristics of Jesuit Education
Collaborative Organizing for Racial Equity
Ignatian Solidarity Network: Faith in Action: Racial Justice Resources

Catholic Resources:

What We Do

Social Justice Week: Social Justice Week is an opportunity to intentionally focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through the lens of human dignity. During the week, students move from awareness to action, learning about matters of social justice and acquiring tools to be advocates for change in their communities.
MLK Assembly: Every January, the Black Student Union and leaders of the Diversity and Inclusion Student Council gather the student body to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Traditionally, this event provides the Jesuit community the opportunity reflect on the impact of MLK's words and speeches as well as present-day issues of social justice.
Community Day: The DEI Office and the Counseling Department host Community Day for 9th-grade students every September. The class builds relationships and learns about such topics as what it means to be a person with and for others, their own identity, the impact that words have on a community, and how to support a friend through a mental health crisis.
Welcome Back Family Potluck: The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosts the DEI Welcome Back Potluck for all community members to kick off the school year! Families of diverse backgrounds bring food to celebrate their cultural traditions. Potluck attendees meet other Jesuit families, faculty and staff, and student leaders of affinity clubs who are part of the Diversity and Inclusion Student Council (DISC).
School Bus Transportation Support to NE Portland: Jesuit provides a free student bus service that drops off and picks up from St. Andrew Nativity School. This service is on a first come, first serve basis.
Affinity Clubs: Affinity clubs at Jesuit offer another space of belonging for students in marginalized groups. The clubs host meetings, celebrations, and informative Flex sessions.
- Arab American Club
- Asian Student Union
- Black Student Union
- Chinese Culture Club
- Filipino Culture Club
- Gender and Sexuality Alliance
- Japanese Culture Club
- Jewish Student Union
- Latino Student Union
- Multiracial and Mixed Club
- Pacific Islander Club
- Slavic Culture Club
- South Asian Culture Club
- Viet Student Union
- Young Men of Color Club
- Young Women of Color Club