The Heller School for Social Policy and Management

Our commitment to build belongingness for all

The Heller School seeks to ensure a safe and inclusive environment in which community members respect and value others. In the pursuit of the Heller motto, “Knowledge Advancing Social Justice,” we are committed to equity, inclusion and diversity in our research institutes, academic programs, policies and community relationships.

Dean David Weil says, “As a graduate school dedicated to social justice, Heller has a duty to confront the racial injustice that pervades our social policies, our institutions, and even our school community.” (Read his full statement on Heller's commitment to addressing institutional racism.)

To measure our progress on these goals, we follow the 165 benchmarked metrics outlined by the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award and regularly update our progress.

Bring your whole self to Heller

The Heller School endorses a broad definition of diversity reflective of differences that include, but are not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, visa status, culture, economic status and background, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation and identity, religion, political views, academic background and interests, abilities, learning styles and pace, physical appearance, and individual personality.

Take the pledge

It is the responsibility of each and every member of the Heller community to acknowledge the meaningful differences that inform each individual's identity, and to uphold and defend our shared values as we strive to create a more equitable future for all. Our mission is buttressed through Heller's Diversity Pledge and the diversity and inclusion goals of Brandeis University.

May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

How One Woman's Story Led to the Creation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

"She had witnessed the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations of 1976 and was concerned about the lack of recognition given to Asian Pacific Americans. 'She thought, what are the different ways that we can promote public awareness of the contributions?'"

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with GBH, GBH World, and WTTW

Community leaders and filmmakers will discuss the challenges and triumphs of ethnic neighborhoods evolving over the decades and will describe how these vital centers offer tremendous benefits to their greater communities today.

Thursday, May 12  |  6pm ET

Staff Reading Picks from Asia Society Texas

Enjoy this special edition of Staff Picks highlighting fiction and nonfiction titles! With recommendations spanning memoirs to manga to cookbooks, Asia Society invites you to dive in for a fresh understanding and appreciation of food, history, and contemporary life.

AAPI Heritage Month @ Cambridge Public Library

Are You “AAPI” or “Asian American”? It's Complicated.

How many A’s in AAPI? Dolly & Adrian hear from South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander voices to explore the pros and cons of disaggregating Asian American as a statistical category. (Video, 11 minutes)

The inadequacy of the term “Asian American”

"When it comes to the term 'Asian American,' there’s a continual risk that it’s masking the differences within communities and fueling the myth that Asian Americans are a monolithic group."

AAPI Heritage Month Celebration with Boston Public Library

Celebrate Asian / Pacific American Heritage Month with the Boston Public Library! There will be activities for all ages, including: Qi Gong Exercise Practice, Calligraphy, and Thạch Dừa (Vietnamese Coconut Jelly) to-go kits!

These programs are sponsored by Boston Little Saigon

Saturday, May 21  |  12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

12 Ways to Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by exploring the history, arts, and culture of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

By Google Arts & Culture