For the Shorecrest community, diversity isn’t just a word; it’s a profound commitment and priority. While some institutions, like the University of Florida, have recently made controversial cuts to diversity programs, Shorecrest has recently introduced new opportunities that celebrate diversity. 

     Students and faculty are taking essential steps to enhance diversity and inclusivity within the community. While there are various individual affinity groups within Shorecrest, there has been a recent desire to expand their influence. 

     Junior Black Student Union (BSU) President Caleb Williams, junior European Student Union (ESU) member Anastasia Davis, and junior Hispanic Heritage Union (HHU) President Emma Moya recently came together to form a brand new initiative, what Director of Diversity and Inclusion Roderick Fludd referred to it as an “open affinity group.” The group is called “Harmony Across Borders,” and was created to build a bridge between different affinity groups already on campus, such as the Asian Student Union (ASU) and the Jewish Student Union (JSU).

     Williams, when asked how important diversity is to him, said, “It’s very important to me because the school is majority white. A lot of the time in majority white settings, there tends to be a lot of microaggressions, a lot of racism.” He added, “When it comes to minority race issues, it’s often awkward and silent. Oftentimes it’s unintentional, but it also makes minorities feel like our voices aren’t being heard and that people don’t care about the problems that we face.”

     The group also allows students who aren’t necessarily part of an affinity group to be further educated on diversity. Students in affinity groups usually don’t learn about diversity outside their group, which often prevents them from expanding their knowledge on other cultures and racial matters. This is Williams’ and Davis’ goal for the new group. 

     Davis said her approach to prioritizing diversity is “talking about [diversity] more often and outside of affinity groups.” She expressed that one of the only ways she learns about other cultures is through her affinity group, but if all groups gather together, that allows for information to spread and for students to further their knowledge of other cultures. 

     While the topic of diversity remains strong and continues to grow, it’s not solely limited to students. Fludd also hosts the Community Committee on Diversity for parents and faculty at Shorecrest, with their first meeting held in November 2024. They continue to hold meetings every second Wednesday of the month.

     These meetings allow adults in the Shorecrest community to discuss topics regarding diversity. Fludd leads each meeting with a new topic of conversation, with their most recent being “belonging.” Participants discussed questions such as, “How does one establish belonging?” “How do you feel like you belong?” and “How can you help someone else feel like they belong?” 

     Fludd said, “The intended impact is for participants to leave with a desire to not only share but listen to others and engage in more conversation.” This meeting is meant to be authentic, allowing participants to interact with people of different diversities than theirs and to experience those cultures. 

     These meetings enable parents and faculty to educate their students and children on the importance of diversity. Students living in a community that openly speaks about diversity and different cultures impact them greatly. Davis said, “I like how open Shorecrest is about talking about issues … regarding diversity or [politics].” 

     Fludd said, “The more racially diverse that a campus is, the more kids grow up understanding that their world is very diverse. They learn to practice that existence in a world where there are lots of different races that you will encounter, and it’s not a shock.”