Severn News

Upper School Unity Day: By the Students, For the Students

2/7/2018

On the morning of Thursday, February 1st, Severn Upper School students throughout Creeden hall could be found deep in conversation; some participating in walking discussion activities, some exploring media and resources to spark their dialogue. But there were no classes in session that morning. These discussions were organized by our students, for our students to address issues of diversity and inclusion in our school and as relates to the larger world. The goal of the day? To bring our students together— to learn from one another — and have the types of conversations that ignite change and growth in our community.

What is Unity Day?

Every year around Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our Upper School students participate in an activity that reflects the work that King tried to accomplish. The program grows each year as students become more interested and involved in diversity and inclusion work. Last year, Upper School students organized a schoolwide spectrum activity to explore their personal opinions on issues from immigration to family structures. This year, they took that foundation and built upon it, creating Upper School Unity Day.

Severn School students gather together after a school-wide unity activity. — *Student Unity Day organizers and facilitators gathered after school.*

Moving with Momentum

Unity Day was an extension of that initial spectrum activity, but also a reflection of a shift in momentum around inclusion and diversity work at Severn. This year, more students than ever attended national and local conferences to learn about advocacy and leadership. At the Leadership Lab in August, Head of School Doug Lagarde spoke with students about Severn’s commitment to developing a truly inclusive community. Our students decided to take on Unity as the theme for their adaptive challenge this year, a drive to promote a sense of belonging for every student. And with the seemingly relentless division in political and social rhetoric on the national stage, our students were hungry to talk about all of these topics as a community.

Goal-focused Strategy

After months of planning with the support of Severn teachers and administrators, a panel of Upper School students introduced the framework for the day at morning meeting. During their presentation, they continually reiterated the goals of the program and were strategic about how to encourage student involvement. At one point they asked every student who was involved in planning the day to stand — students from all around the room took to their feet and the impact was immediate. You could see that this event was the product of many hands over many hours working together toward a common goal. Their message was strong and clear.

“What are we really trying to accomplish with this day? We have seen increased participation at diversity conferences designed to get the conversation going and we would like to build off of that momentum, to bring it here to Severn School. Above all, we want to promote empathy and understanding. We could stand up here and we could lecture to you; we could give you facts, we could give you data. But what really matters is not the data, but that you empathize with and understand these various groups and make sure we all feel included in this community.”— Jake Leroux ‘20

Severn School teachers pose together in the Teel Rotunda — Faculty mentors: Ms. Minda Wesley, Mr. Matt Lapolla, Ms. Melissa Osquist, Ms. Lise Charlier, Ms. Bea Fuller, Ms. Tania Berkowitz, Mr. Bob Campuzano, Mr. Jim Greenlee (not pictured: Mr. Marc Buckley, Ms. Sam Straub, Ms. Kelly Wilson, Mr. Bob Laffey, Ms. Kristin Blanck)

Our students introduced the workshop topics and stressed to the crowd that the element of choice was a critical piece of their planning process. In order to ensure that their peers would be actively engaged in the workshops, they created an online sign-up form with a ranking system to indicate preference. Their workshop descriptions are as follows:

The Power of Personal Stories. We will learn more about mental health issues that face our community by hearing directly from those whose lives are affected.
Black Lives Matter & the National Anthem. We will learn about the history of the Black Lives Matter Movement and discuss protest methods and movements.
Terrorism and Stereotypes: Is the Media Fueling our Biases. We will be looking at how the things that we view online reflect and influence our own perceptions of other people and cultures, specifically the Muslim stereotypes regarding modern terrorism. We think that it is so important to be aware of how the media influences our beliefs.
Immigration: Debunking Misconceptions. The purpose is to educate and have a meaningful discussion on relevant topics around immigration. We will be addressing the visa process, immigration policies, DACA, and TPS. If you don’t know what those are, that’s more of a reason to join us.
Privilege: We All Have It. By walking in the shoes of another we will examine how various advantages we might have influence how we move through life. Discussing privilege will help us better understand each other.
The Rainbow Connection: LGBTQ Conversations. A conversation to deepen the understanding of the LGBTQ+ community and answer questions from the Severn community.
Gender, Media, and Society: A Walk and Talk. Come participate in a walking activity that explores gender roles as well as a lively and informative discussion about how gender inequities can affect all parts of our community.

Reflection on the Day

We asked students who participated in the event to share what they took away from the morning’s discussions. It was evident that the day's events had just the type of impact our organizers were hoping for.

“Unity day was a great way to celebrate the togetherness of this community, and it was a well-deserved opportunity to learn more about topics such as gender roles, privileges, stereotypes, and mental illness. It's days like these that remind me of the wonderful family I have in this community and wish we had more time for inclusivity discussions.” — Josie Formica ‘18

“I think that Unity Day was very successful and throughout the halls, I heard many people talking about it. The Power of Personal Stories was most talked about, and it was a very well put together seminar. This raised awareness about mental health and I am happy that I chose this seminar to participate in.” — Solana Page ‘20

Where Do We Go from Here?

Our students are hopeful that this program will continue to develop over time, perhaps a full day of workshops in the future. The strength of this movement rests completely on their shoulders; it’s up to them to put in the energy and work. Our faculty and staff offer support along the way, but this work truly is for the students, by the students. As long as they are invested in making our community the best it can be, we will see this program grow as our students learn more about who they are and who they want to be.

Severn School Inclusivity Statement

Severn aspires to be an inclusive community where each person is welcomed and affirmed. We find strength and value in our similarities and differences thereby inspiring students and adults to participate in and sustain a vibrant exchange of ideas and perspectives. In designing thoughtful programs and practices, we will broaden a culture of belonging and respect and an appreciation for the complexities within ourselves and others, and foster the desire to participate in a dynamic, global society.

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