The International School of Denver hosted the 4th BIPOC Day of Affinity on Monday, November 4. The Day of Affinity grew out of a close collaboration between three Association of Colorado Independent Schools. Gabriel Lopez (Boulder Country Day School), Jay Parker and Nick Malakhow (Dawson School), and Annie Barocas (ISDenver) wanted to create intentional opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students to find places of belonging in predominantly white institutions.

The BIPOC Day of Affinity brings together BIPOC students from ACIS schools to celebrate, to learn, and to find spaces of connection. Staff from ISDenver, the Dawson School, and the Denver Waldorf School led affinity break-out spaces for the over 75 students in attendance. This year's focus was assumptions. The goal was to help students consider how our assumptions can shape perspectives and interactions with others, often unintentionally, and to encourage them to approach others with curiosity, empathy, and openness. 

Celebrating the Day of Affinity was an incredibly special and impactful experience for BIPOC students, providing them with a unique opportunity to connect deeply with peers from other school communities. This day allowed students to share their stories and experiences in a space where they felt genuinely seen, valued, and appreciated. The connections made were not only enriching but also created a strong sense of partnership and belonging, as many students already knew each other. This familiarity fostered a warm and inclusive environment where they could experience the joy of community and support. By celebrating together, students were empowered to honor their identities, and this collective sense of community opened the door for them to approach the day from a lens of celebration and pride in who they are.

- Ingrid Alvarez, ISDenver Spanish Faculty

Alvarez went on to share the shift she's observed at the Days of Affinity over time, "The connections made were not only enriching but also created a strong sense of partnership and belonging, as many students already knew each other. This familiarity fostered a warm and inclusive environment where they could experience the joy of community and support. By celebrating together, students were empowered to honor their identities, and this collective sense of community opened the door for them to approach the day from a lens of celebration and pride in who they are."

The day ended with an iconic performance from Los Mocochetes, a Chicano Funk Band based in Denver. They shared their spoken words, musical talents, and humorous improvisation, imparting a message of pride in one's culture and identity as well as one's power to use their voice towards social justice.

This fourth Day of Affinity was fantastic to be a part of. Having grown from forty students our first time getting together, to now having close to eighty students, proves the need for events like this to continue to happen. Seeing so many returning middle schoolers as well as returning chaperones, we have built this community comprised of individuals looking for a place of understanding, respect, and belonging as well as adults looking to support the students we care about so deeply. The level of open discussion by all involved proves that we have created a safe place of dialogue and mutual respect.  Watching the students sing and dance along with the performance by Los Mocochetes in celebration of culture and desire for social change was the perfect way to end this day together. We look forward to our next gathering in March.  

-Annie Barocas, Director Director of Counseling, Director of Inclusivity and Belonging

We invite our BIPOC students in grade 5-8 to join us at our next BIPOC Day of Affinity at the Dawson School on March 31st. More details to follow.