Over the last two weeks we have had several occasions within our program and via guest speakers and programs to discuss the complex topic of diversity at our school and in the United States. 

 

NPR’s Michele Norris visited campus on Oct 14 as part of our amazing SPEAK series.  Engaging with students, parents and faculty, Ms. Norris helped bring a journalist’s eye to the topic of race in America and shared some of her own unique history as well.  Norris noted that she thinks, “we need a new vernacular for talking about race in this country.”  Along those lines, her race card project, now in its fourth year, certainly helps give voice to more people whose unique and personally felt definitions of race, ethnic and cultural diversity add to the conversation.  In just six words people have been able to express profound wisdom, at times elaborated upon when they provide some context for their insights.  I encourage everyone to check out the website at http://theracecardproject.com.

 

Ms. Norris acknowledged that she believes the issues are more complex these days, even as we have made steady progress as a nation towards greater social justice and equality for all.  The new film “I’m Not a Racist, Am I?” underscores this point very well.  In that documentary, which CA screened last weekend, multiple New York City high school students’ perspectives are considered.  The film’s director, Catherine Greene, was on hand to lead a discussion and answer questions after both screenings.  The film’s producer, Andre Lee, also joined the discussion Sunday.  The takeaways from the screenings were many, but none more important than the need to keep engaging in dialogue.  Sometimes we all hide behind the façade of “politeness,” never sharing our views on race, ethnicity, and other personal cultural identifiers.  Many feel that it is safer not to talk about these topics, lest they offend someone in the process.  But silence is too easy, limiting the potential for people to grow in understanding or appreciating others’ points of view.

 

I have been engaged in the good work of increasing diversity in independent schools for all 25 years I have been in the business.  In that time, the conversations have evolved; awareness and buy-in among constituencies has increased.  But on the other hand, the issues are far more complex now as we live in what some have called a “post-racial society.”  (Michele Norris takes issue with this term, as do I.)  While Barack Obama's election as the first African-American president has generally been regarded as a watershed moment in US history—and rightly so—I also believe it is equally important to note that he is the first mixed-race president in the country.  His mix of ethnicities and identities actually signal a powerful trend in the U.S., and one that has been reflected in independent schools in the past two decades.  Now more than ever students come to us who are bi-racial and multi-racial, further complicating their own personal stories as well as the ways schools handle the topic of diversity.   At CA, we will forge ahead into these murky waters, “leaning into discomfort” when we can and providing safe opportunities for all students to express themselves.

 

Towards the end, we will give students multiple authentic opportunities to engage in the discussion.  Still ahead: on Friday and Saturday, our students and faculty will be part of a local conference called CIRCLE/STAMP.  The CIRCLE part on Saturday is for educators and parents, while STAMP—Students Taking Action and Making Progress—allows Middle School students to get together to discuss diversity issues.  This year for the first time several Upper School students have been trained as group facilitators and will spend the time helping the younger students with the conference.  This annual learning and leadership opportunity takes place this year at the History Colorado Center in Denver; the Center’s exhibit RACE: Are We So Different? will be running for the next six months.

 

For more information, go to http://www.thecircleconference.com/CIRCLE/CIRCLE_STAMP.html.