Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at NYFA
The New York Film Academy (NYFA) is committed to providing all of our students with a safe environment where they can learn, work, grow, and create. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds to join our creative community of aspiring storytellers and performers from over 160 countries. We believe that unique, impactful stories can only be told when people work together and aim to put collaboration, community, and inclusion at the heart of all of our visual and performing arts programs. Through these initiatives, we support and encourage our students to create stories that represent, reflect, and celebrate their diversity.
“I am honored to partner with our extraordinary DEI Councils in our ongoing work to make and keep NYFA a diverse, inclusive and equitable community where all members are celebrated and have the opportunity to develop their creative voices and be supported in their work.”Michael J. Young President of NYFA
Resources
Understanding Diversity and Intersectionality
NYFA takes an intersectional approach to address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. Intersectionality explores how aspects of a person’s identities combine to create different modes of privilege, access, and representation. Examples of these aspects are race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, disability and nationality. By taking an intersectional approach, NYFA’s DEI Council hopes to ensure that all members of our community have an inclusive and equitable experience while attending and working at NYFA.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council (DEI) Committees at NYFA
NYFA’s Cross Campus Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a leadership body made up of faculty and staff across our campuses that ensures strong leadership, inclusive decision-making, and global citizenship that respectfully considers other points of view. For more information and resources, please visit each campus DEI page.
Committees
Employee Diversity Training Committee
The Employee Diversity Training Committee develops and implements in partnership with non-profit experts and thought leaders live and recorded diversity training for NYFA’s U.S. employees across all three campuses.
Programming Committee
The Programming Committee shall develop and/or implement short- and long-term events and workshops for NYFA students, faculty, and/or staff in order to educate and provide forums to better understand topics of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Curriculum Committee
The Curriculum Committee shall develop and advocate for diverse perspectives in all aspects of the curriculum, including diversity in films and other works, inclusivity in pedagogy, and other classroom practices.
Policies Committee
The Policies Committee shall develop proposals for institutional policy changes or additions that considers how policy and process may impede diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, the Policies Committee should propose and review policies that can increase diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Diversity Objectives
NYFA celebrated diversity of people, thought and creative expression. Diversity is the presence of differences that may include race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, language, (dis)ability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective.
Equity Objectives
DEI recognizes the existence of inequality for underrepresented groups and will advocate safeguarding equity through its recruitment, education, and post-graduation practices and programs. Underrepresented groups and protected classes include, but are not limited to, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, citizenship status, genetic markers, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, political activities or affiliations, military or veteran status, and status as a victim of domestic violence.
Inclusion Objectives
NYFA is committed to creating environments that respectfully give voice to all. It cultivates creativity and promotes a greater mutual understanding of our differences, which fosters empathy to reach across cultural, political, and socioeconomic boundaries.