Affinities are a home away from home – they are safe places for students to meet and discuss their common identities: race, religion, sexuality, or socioeconomic status. Affinities usually meet once every few weeks to plan fun events for the community or those within that affinity, such as the Hispanic Heritage celebration, the Lunar New Year celebration, and the Black History Month celebration. Here at Webb, affinities are different from school clubs because they focus on more of one’s identity rather than their interests.  

Asian Affinity  

Asian Affinity Group (AAG) is for students who identify as Asian or Asian American. As the affinity group with the most members at Webb, Asian Affinity has a lot planned for the upcoming school year. One of the group’s main goals for this year is to include more educational content in their meetings and hold them in the evening to have more time for deeper and more meaningful conversations.  

“A lot of [our goals] are centered around having more time,” said Ryan Ho (‘25). “These evening meetings would be cozier and would give people the chance to connect and have good conversations.”    

During X-blocks, the education sessions will spotlight Asian authors, feature readings, and foster discussions on Asian media. In contrast, the evening meetings will offer a more casual setting. Building on the educational focus of the daytime sessions, these evening gatherings aim to blend learning with social connections, accompanied by good food and engaging conversation. 

Beyond strengthening conversations within the affinity, the AAG also plans to collaborate across affinities. 

Asian Affinity has also been brainstorming for their next Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) event in May.  

“Last year, we started planning a little too late, so nothing ended up happening. This year we hope to do more celebratory activities for the whole community,” Ryan said.   

Looking forward, the AAG plans to have interactive and thoughtful events for each week in May, leading up to a final event that will close the celebration and lead us into the final weeks of the school year.  

LGBTQIA + Affinity 

LGBTQIA + Affinity is for students who identify as any part of the LGBTQIA + community. The LGBTQIA + community collaborates with the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), an inclusive club at Webb that welcomes everyone, regardless of their sexuality. One of the main goals for the affinity this year is to include more structured discussions focused on supporting people in the coming-out process and helping them feel less alone. 

“Last year, we didn’t do a whole lot of organized discussions,” said Marc Zambrano (‘26), LGBTQIA+ Affinity member. “I feel like this year I really want to do that: talk about different things, like coming-out, stereotypes within [the community] so that people, can grasp different ways to do it and hear other people’s experiences.” 

The LGBTQIA+ Affinity is meant to create a safe space for people within the community to hear others’ experiences with finding their sexuality and finding people to connect with. 

“I met my co-president of the GSA Marc in the affinity,” said Lucy Troendle (‘26). “It’s been a great place to hang out and be with people who are way older than me, have a chill time together and hear about [their] experience.” 

Black Affinity 

Black Affinity is for students who identify as Black or African American. Black Affinity usually gathers every two weeks. They have planned a few major events for this school year, including a fish fry, end-of-the year-cookout for within the Black Affinity, and a diaspora cultural night open to everyone, which will take place in February along with other Black History Month celebrations. 

The Black Affinity plans to include more structure to the meetings, such as setting an agenda of what they are planning to accomplish for this school year. They also aim to boost student attendance by providing more snacks in the meetings and engaging in more meaningful conversations as the year goes on.  

“One of our goals is for people to actually show up, since we don’t have the numbers,” said Kenny Clay (‘25). “It would be awesome if attendance increased.”   

The affinity advocates for the safety of black– identifying community members, giving them a home-like space on campus. 

“Being the only black guy in my grade is part of the reason why I go,” Kenny said.  “Black Affinity provides me with a sense of community and family.”  

BIPOC Residential  

BIPOC Residential Affinity is for students who live on campus and identify as a student of color. This space welcomes boarders from various cultures, with many participants being a part of other affinities. One of the main goals this year is to expand the location and offer students the opportunity to go off campus. 

Meeting once a month at Dr. Greco’s house, the gatherings typically feature a blend of check-ins, diverse conversation topics, and delicious food. Some past favorites included elote, snow-covered ube, coconut ice cream, and quesadillas.  In one memorable meeting, Dr. Greco and Sochika Ndibe (‘26) collaborated to prepare a Nigerian dish called jollof rice, reflecting the group’s dedication to celebrating diverse cultures while living on campus.  

The affinity leaders, Dr. Ardina Greco and Malik Mbengue, strive to create a welcoming atmosphere, ensuring students feel right at home in a comfortable and inviting space.  

“Being a boarder is very tough,” Mr. Mbengue said. “So, the affinity is to bring a home away from home through food and lively conversation.” 

Sharing residential areas and common spaces can make it difficult for students to be away from home. It’s important to allow the students of color who live at Webb to find a deep connection and bring a sense of familiarity.   

The BIPOC Affinity aims to increase the frequency of its meetings, as they typically do not organize large-scale school events. This flexible space is designed to accommodate the preferences of the current group, allowing for adaptable scheduling and ideas brought forward by BIPOC members. 

“Ultimately this space is for the students; it’s important for us to listen to new ideas and what they find essential to discuss through meetings,” Mr. Mbengue said. “Through food and conversation, people can just sit down and be with company.”  

Latinos Unidos  

Latinos Unidos Affinity is a space for those who identify as Hispanic or Latino/a. Led by Cindy Lopez and James Huerta, the space usually comes together once a month. However, there are many times throughout the year where the group will get outside of campus together at a coffee shop or go get a bite to eat. 

“It is a space where people who share multiple aspects of their identity can go and share a deeper connection.” said Maddie Leiva (’27). “For me, it’s like you don’t have to say anything yet you still understand each other.” 

 One of the main events the affinity holds is during Hispanic Heritage Month. On campus, students, faculty, and families come together to enjoy delicious traditional food from Colombia, Mexico, Spain, and other Hispanic countries and cultures. This year, folklorico dancers performed traditional Mexican dances, showcasing colorful outfits and upbeat music that brought a vibrant energy to the celebration and the Webb community. 

The goal of Latinos Unidos is to make both current and new students feel connected with each other and comfortable.  

“It’s a lot more welcoming than I expected,” Maddie said. “My first year I felt very comfortable and invited. There’s always food and it’s a great way to share a safe place.”  

Mixed-Ethnicity Affinity  

Mixed-ethnicity Affinity is an affinity for students who identify themselves with more than one cultural or ethnic background. The group meets once every two months, with a focus on celebrating aspects of their cultures that members may not always connect with.  

These gatherings include sharing personal stories and occasionally attending off-campus cultural events and intercultural potlucks. 

Major events planned for this year include another potluck around Thanksgiving and attending an AfroLatinx festival in February. The Affinity is also hoping to organize a mixed Asian cultural outing or festival in Los Angeles to help other members connect to their heritage.  

“We want to provide a space where people can connect with aspects of their culture that have been lost through assimilation,” said Host Dr. Greco, leader of the Mixed-Ethnicity Affinity.  

The Affinity aims to foster a safe space for reflection, cultural pride, and shared experiences, especially in the light of complex histories that many mixed-ethnicity students face.  

One goal for Mixed Affinity this year is to strengthen connections with other affinity groups on campus. Many mixed-ethnicity students, who may feel overlooked or disconnected due to being seen as white passing, hope to become allies and create a more unified, and supportive community. By working with other groups and encouraging broader participation, Mixed Affinity seeks to ensure everyone can feel comfortable, seen, and valued in their own skin.