New Diversity and Inclusivity Workshop for Local Area Independent Schools
How do you want to show up in the world? In what ways do you want to be seen and heard, and what can you do to see and hear others better? What should you do if other people impose their stories onto you? How do the many aspects of our identity intersect and interconnect with others’?
These and many other weighty topics were thoughtfully considered and discussed at the 1st Annual Diversity/Inclusivity/Equity Workshop. Held at mindSpark Learning in Lakewood on Wednesday, the workshop brought together around 60 students and faculty from CA, Kent Denver, Regis Jesuit, Denver Academy, Fountain Valley School and Dawson School. Students from all backgrounds joined together to take on some challenging group work as well as meaningful self-reflection with the help of facilitators like Collinus Newsome, Director of Education at the Denver Education (and former faculty member at Graland Country Day School).
Stephen Brackett, one of the founding members of the Denver-based band the Flobots, was the keynote speaker. After getting kids up off their feet for an informal singing contest, Stephen spoke to the students about his own experiences. He shared that he considered himself a nerd, musician, husband, poet, and unapologetically black. As one of the only African-American students at Stanley British Primary School years ago, he discovered how to negotiate that world and felt empowered by the education he received there. He had the strong support of parents who had fought for civil rights in the 1960s, as well as friends from many backgrounds, including his future Flobots collaborator Jamie Laurie. He asked the students at the workshop to consider what they are “unapologetically themselves about” and lean into that sense of self. He encouraged them to find the different ways their brilliance could emerge. In all, a very positive and encouraging message for the students (and adults for that matter).
So much of the emphasis of the day was on being true to one’s self and also building empathy for others around us. While some areas of identity are easy to see, others are not, and we should avoid making assumptions about people regardless. Everyone has struggles, everyone has joys. Finding common ground in our shared humanity is essential to honoring everyone’s place in a school environment and the world at large.
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