For the delegation of students and faculty attending a major diversity conference, the opening keynote address by Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of the best-selling book, “Just Mercy,” was one of the big highlights.
The end of the conference was inspiring, too, as three Atlanta-area Civil Rights leaders were awarded special recognition. Honored were U.S. Rep. John Lewis, baseball great Hank Aaron and Dr. Christine King Farris, a retired Spelman College professor and the last living sibling of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Lewis told the gathering of more than 5,000 students and teachers from across the United States and four other countries, “When you see something that’s not right, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something, say something, make noise and speak up.”
Toni Graves Williamson, Assistant Head of School Equity and Inclusion, led the delegation of 17 faculty members and students to the Atlanta conference. The faculty attended the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference while the students participated in the NAIS’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference. The two groups were together for the keynote speech, attended separate workshops and programs, and came back together for the closing of the conference.
This Week asked one of the faculty members who participated, Lower School Spanish Teacher Alicia Fernandez, to write about the experience. Here is an excerpt from her report:
“The conferences made available safe spaces for magnifying all of our unique voices through a series of activities as well as deep and meaningful discussions. Most important, it offered an environment in which AFS Upper School students and teachers across three divisions could bond with each other. Priceless!
“The People of Color Conference experience was incredibly satisfying! As a person of color in an independent school, I truly relish seeing and meeting colleagues and mentors, sharing stories and experiences, and hearing tips and strategies of ways to heighten my understanding of the issues and barriers others face as well. In hearing others’ stories, my identity and sense of self was affirmed, challenged and prompted to grow. I return to my AFS community with renewed energy for the work ahead to improve awareness, understanding and practice.
The main focus of the SDLC was integrating and welcoming diversity. The students joined gatherings focused on self-reflecting, forming allies and building community. For them, the experience was powerful, emotional and transformative.”
