An Inspiration for Change: Diversity Discussions in Seattle, Washington
November 30th through December 2nd Millbrook faculty and students were fortunate to attend the People of Color Conference and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, both sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools and held this year in Seattle, Washington. The theme for the 2006 POCC was: Nourishing Ourselves for the Swim Upstream.
November 30th through December 2nd Millbrook faculty and students were fortunate to attend the People of Color Conference and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, both sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools and held this year in Seattle, Washington. The theme for the 2006 POCC was: Nourishing Ourselves for the Swim Upstream.
Mr. Nic Newcomb and Mr. Tony McKinley, advisors to Millbrook’s diversity group, Uncensored, traveled with sixth formers Ivonne Morales, Geoff Fisher, and Tripp Revson, and fifth former Arielle Watlington. Ivonne, Geoff, and Tripp are decision-makers on Millbrook’s diversity council, meeting weekly to discuss topics and plan diversity day on campus. Arielle was selected to attend the conferences due to her consistent efforts on the diversity council since last year.
During their stay in Seattle, our students spent full days attending workshops (from 8am-11 pm) with 1,500 other students from around the country. Participants were broken up into affinity groups in order to share experiences and discuss diversity issues at their schools and ideas, possible or proven, for improving diversity. Selected student facilitators led these discussions.
Teachers also attended daily workshops (click here to see the entire program and extensive variety of workshops from which they could choose). Having listened to guest speakers and participated in group discussions, Mr. McKinley and Mr. Newcomb were able to gauge how Millbrook fares compared to other schools when it comes to issues of diversity. According to Mr. McKinley, “We're ahead of the race in some areas and need improvement in others.”
In the end, both faculty members came away with an appreciation of the spiritual tone which surrounded the whole event. A conclusion that was easy to draw: diversity is a bigger issue that goes way beyond our school. And the most important factor these conferences offered was energy and inspiration to change the world, using our schools as a tool.
Our students traveled to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference with intentions of getting ideas for Diversity Day here at Millbrook, but learned more about how to champion diversity in general. It was certainly a shot of adrenaline in the arm, and one idea already being evaluated by Millbrook’s Uncensored group is to turn this year’s Diversity Day into a celebration, being proud of who you are as an individual, and losing the “serious” and “somber” tone of year’s past.
Diversity Day 2007 will take place January 19th at Millbrook. In the past school-wide activities including diversity-themed films were followed by group discussions led by facilitators. A hunger banquet was held during lunch, and the school was divided as the world is into three groups: 1- upperclass, 2-middle class, 3- lowerclass. Each was served accordingly. Last year’s event ended with an open-mike forum which turned out to be the highlight of the day, engaging thoughts and contemplative discussion on what diversity means to students here and how we can promote further diversity on our campus. While plans for Diversity Day 2007 are still underway, Mr. McKinley anticipates the open-mike segment will once again be the closing activity for the day.
Our students traveled to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference with intentions of getting ideas for Diversity Day here at Millbrook, but learned more about how to champion diversity in general. It was certainly a shot of adrenaline in the arm, and one idea already being evaluated by Millbrook’s Uncensored group is to turn this year’s Diversity Day into a celebration, being proud of who you are as an individual, and losing the “serious” and “somber” tone of year’s past.
Diversity Day 2007 will take place January 19th at Millbrook. In the past school-wide activities including diversity-themed films were followed by group discussions led by facilitators. A hunger banquet was held during lunch, and the school was divided as the world is into three groups: 1- upperclass, 2-middle class, 3- lowerclass. Each was served accordingly. Last year’s event ended with an open-mike forum which turned out to be the highlight of the day, engaging thoughts and contemplative discussion on what diversity means to students here and how we can promote further diversity on our campus. While plans for Diversity Day 2007 are still underway, Mr. McKinley anticipates the open-mike segment will once again be the closing activity for the day.
