Identity and Equity Groups

Our Identity and Equity program creates student-led spaces that celebrate and affirm identity, ranging from closed affinity meetings to whole-community events.

Student leaders take a visible leadership role for the organization they identify with and share their passion for building community, dialogue, and connection. 

MA launched its Identity and Equity (IDEQ) program in 2004. While the number and configurations of groups have changed over time in response to our student body, all groups remained oriented around strengthening our multicultural community through celebrating and affirming our identities. The program works in tandem with other DEIB initiatives at MA.

What is the IDEQ Program Mission? 

MA’s IDEQ program creates student-led spaces that celebrate and affirm identity, ranging from closed affinity meetings to whole-community events. The program collaborates with and/or complements other DEIB initiatives at Marin Academy. 

Who are student IDEQ leaders?

IDEQ leaders are students who take a visible leadership role for the identity of their organization and are passionate about building community, dialogue, and connection around this identity. Read more.

Who are adult IDEQ advisors? 

IDEQ advisors are adults in the MA community who take a visible role for the identity of the student organization and who are dedicated to supporting student identity affirmation and leadership development. They encourage students to grow as leaders within the student-led spaces, they advise students on the facilitation of identity-based dialogue, and they also model, themselves, leadership in cultivating an inclusive school community where students and adults feel a sense of belonging. 

students gathered and smiling
Who are our IDEQ groups for 2023-2024?

MA is a place where I felt comfortable learning to be me and accepted for the me I chose to become.

Taylor Tan '06, Math Teacher and Track and Field Coach

Community Time

Community Time is designated time within the school day for co-curricular programming beyond the usual formats of Advisory, Assembly, and Class Meetings. Read more.

Belonging Spaces

Why these spaces? It is a human need to be in conversation with people who have similar experiences and affinities, whether those be affinities related to some aspect of social identity or our experiences and contexts. Read more.

If you have questions about any of our Identity and Equity Groups, please contact Dean of Equity and Inclusion, Piya Kashyap, or Co-Director of Student Inclusion and Belonging, Juliet Dana.

The Student Diversity Leadership Conference

The Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) is an inclusive, multiracial, multicultural gathering of Independent upper school student leaders (grades 9-12) from around the country. SDLC focuses on self-reflection, allyship, and community building. Led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators, participants will develop an appreciation of their own identities, build effective cross-cultural communication skills, better understand the nature and development of effective strategies for social justice, and practice expression through the arts, while networking with their peers. Each year up to 6 MA students are selected to attend SDLC.

Piya Kashyap

Piya Kashyap

Dean of Equity and Inclusion
Juliet Dana

Juliet Dana

Co-Director of Student Belonging, History Teacher, Human Development Teacher, Penn Mentor