Diversity With Clubs at SJND
Written by Ash Duarte ‘27
The diversity at Saint Joseph Notre Dame is something that is celebrated and honored with the many clubs that we have. From Black Student Union to Latinos Unidos, there’s a variety of different cultural clubs that every student can find a place in.
These cultural clubs offer a unique opportunity for students to explore their culture and create connections with their fellow students. Especially as incoming students become acclimated to their school, these clubs are a chance for them to get involved in the community and learn how SJND works! Overall, they are a great way for students to thrive here at SJND.
Having these clubs is a great way to connect with your culture with workshops, games, selling food, or any other way that gets you involved. You can learn more about your own culture by being a part of these groups. A lot of people may struggle with finding their cultural identity, and having others that they share a background with can be a big help in finding themselves and connecting with their ethnic background.
Revina Ahferom, a freshman in BSU, says “I feel as if it’s a great club that shows I’m not alone and that my people can all come together and share our similarities.”
Diversity is really important and cultural clubs help create an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. You’re invited to come and share or learn about your (or your peers!) culture and that’s key to having a supportive environment at school. We also have the chance to make close friendships with others.
Austin Ly ’27 says that “being included in this club (Asian Student Association) not only makes me feel supported by those that grew up with similar traditions and customs, but helps me further my bonds with my peers.”
It’s so important for the community and it’s great that we have so many at school. A special part of these clubs is how they get to showcase their culture through fun events and activities which allow the whole school to learn more about each other and our cultures.
Jada Johnson ’27 had a lot of great things to say about BSU. “BSU shows my culture in many ways from serving authentic African-American cuisine during lunch, to even playing and recognizing amazing and talented Black artists, such as Beyoncé, H.E.R, Rihanna and more by playing their music during school hours. I feel very honored to be a part of the BSU and am very grateful that SJND has that club.” There are so many students who agree and are grateful that BSU and likewise groups exist.
Throughout the 2023–2024 school year, we have celebrated a myriad of cultural events at school. Lunar New Year, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Moon Festival are just a few that come to mind. We’ve had assemblies with live bands, lunchtime activities at the Quad, special dress days, movie screenings, and so much more to honor these days. Individual clubs plan out events for the whole school to participate in.
I had the opportunity to attend one of these events, the movie screening of Flamin’ Hot back in September (Hispanic Heritage Month), which was an event hosted by Latinos Unidos. We gathered at FLEX to watch Flamin’ Hot, which was an inspiring movie that celebrated Mexican heritage. There was also flamin’ hot cheetos as well as esquite, mexican style corn in a cup, served. This was an example of the many events that are common throughout the school year.
At the end of February, Black Student Union hosted their annual Black History Month assembly. There was a rendition of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ performances, games, and more. Most importantly, they were honoring Black culture.
The most important part of having all of these clubs isn’t just for fun activities. They’re an important way for students to represent themselves and their background. These clubs give students the opportunity to find belonging in the school community and their own culture by providing ways to explore traditions.
Trigo De Jesus Rico-Salgado ’25, an officer for Latinos Unidos, says, “I feel proud with how we do events relevant to historically celebrated days by Hispanics which can make some people feel more included and appreciated at SJND. Not every school acknowledges these celebrated days or encourages their students to play a part in its celebration.” This sheds the light on how special it is that we are able to celebrate our backgrounds as a school community. Clubs are more than just fun activities; they’re ways to connect with each other. It’s amazing how much liberty we have to share our culture with such a welcoming community.
However, we can always do more to foster a healthier community and environment. Trigo follows up saying, “I do feel that we, as a prominent private school in the Bay, could do more for the community around us and not think so individually. We could really change lives around us but we don’t. Overall I am proud of the community we appreciate and celebrate.” It’s always important to find ways that we can do better and always help others when we can. At St. Joes, we’ve been taught to help others and do our part in our community. This is an important message that we should always keep striving towards getting better. We’re blessed to have an inclusive and diverse community, and we should take that opportunity to do more for others who need it.
However, it’s a step in the right direction. Clubs like Latinos Unidos, Black Student Union, FASO, ASA, and more help foster an inclusive, welcoming, personal, diverse environment at SJND that really benefits all students and faculty. As we celebrate the richness of diversity, we create an environment that everyone can be proud of themselves and their culture.
