Throughout the year, Marymount’s diversity committee, with the help of the Upper School club CAMBIAS, plans a series of diversity initiatives, designed to increase awareness of diversity issues throughout the School and to bring the community together through the discussion of difference. Below are descriptions of some of these initiatives.
Middle School Diversity Book DiscussionsNovember 16-20, 2009
The Middle School Diversity Book Discussions aim to engage not only the students in Classes IV-VII but also their parents. Each class is assigned a different book, suitable for their age-level, that address questions of diversity. Throughout the week, the students take part in related events, including recess book discussions, interactive anti-bias activities, and guest speakers from the Upper School. The week culminates with a discussion among the Middle School parents of the books themselves and the surrounding issues of diversity, with a focus on how diversity can be explored by parents and their children. For more information, see the News piece on this year’s discussions.
Annual NAIS People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership ConferenceDecember 3-5, 2009
Every year, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) hosts two simultaneous conferences on issues of diversity–one for adults (the People of Color Conference or PoCC) and one for students (the Student Diversity Leadership Conference or SDLC). According to the NAIS website, these conferences address two important needs: “the need for people of color to come together for networking and support, and the need for schools to find ways to build and sustain inclusive communities.” For more information, see the News piece on the Marymount faculty and students who attended this year’s conferences.
Diversity Awareness Initiative for Students (DAIS) MeetingJanuary 15, 2010, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Marymount hosted one of the monthly Diversity Awareness Initiative for Students (DAIS) meetings. To read more about the meeting, click here. DAIS comprises students from New York City independent, public, and parochial schools who wish to discuss and improve human relations within the community and in society at large.
HarambeeFebruary 19, 2010, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Harambee (from the Swahili, meaning “all pull together”) is a student-led evening celebration of cultural awareness and pride. The bi-annual event focuses on black African, Caribbean, and African-American experience while at the same time inviting all members of the community to tell stories, challenge structures of oppression, and celebrate diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. During the weeks that precede and follow, each division commemorates Black/African-American History month in some form with age-appropriate activities and curricula. On alternate years, Marymount holds a Bias Awareness Day to examine unconscious biases that can lead to discrimination, name-calling, and even violence.
Ally WeekApril 12-19, 2010
Marymount will hold its first Ally Week to encourage awareness among students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and parents about the role an ally plays in ending discrimination, bias, and name-calling. The week will begin on April 12 with talks by Gene Batiste, Vice President of Leadership Education and Diversity at the National Association for Independent Schools (NAIS). There will be an afternoon workshop for faculty and staff and an evening workshop for students, alumnae, and parents. The week will conclude with participation in the National Day of Silence.