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DEIG in! Your Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Global Education Newsletter -- September 2022

Word of the month: Affinity Group

An affinity group is the bringing together of people who have an identifier in common (e.g. race, gender, religion, family status etc.). Affinity groups are for individuals who identify as members of the group and can speak to the experience of being a member of this group from the "I" perspective. -- adapted from Rosetta Lee

Welcome Back!

We are thrilled to be welcoming you back to a new school year. Our team has been hard at work preparing for the fall. This summer, we did curriculum development, discussed issues of practice, and started to map out what might be possible this year. Highlights of our summer include:

  • B-12 summer institute about community engagement and service learning
  • B-12 mapping out and scaffolding of our racial identity development programs, including returning and emergent affinity space
  • Return of our Global Travel Program, including preparing for this September's Round Square Student Conference

Our goal this year is focused on belonging. We will continue to leverage student voice to strengthen community connections. We will be focusing on aligning and refining our programs to create a just community of belonging, where students and adults can feel safe and joyful, proud of who they are and of their place in the BB&N community.

We are thrilled to be able to bring back many of our in-person programs and events this year. This will be an occasion for us to engage with you in a variety of ways and we look forward to being in community together.

We are already starting this: our inaugural Welcome (Back) Dinner for BIPOC Families, gathered 100+ attendees, who talked, ate, and celebrated the opening of the school year. As we write this newsletter, two members of our team are getting ready to accompany Upper School students to the 2022 Round Square International Conference in London, UK...

We are back! Happy September :)

Photo: The DEIG Team, hard at work catering the Welcome (Back) Dinner for BIPOC Families

Special Feature: Welcoming Jade DuVal

This year we have a new member on our team: Education Fellow Jade DuVal. We asked Jade a few questions to help you get to know her better.

1) How do you identify?

Black.

2) What gets you up in the morning?

The prospect of laughter. I think laughing is just about the best thing you can feel and I make it a goal to laugh as much as possible, though it kinda helps that I think everything is funny.

3) What brings you joy?

Talking to people about their favorite TV shows. I love how excited people get over their favorite characters and plot lines. You learn so much about a person through what types of media they consume, and there is something special about sharing the experience of watching a show with someone. Having the chance to live in mutual excitement.

4) What made you choose BB&N?

After graduating college I wanted to work somewhere I could grow and learn doing work that was meaningful to me. Learning about all the work the DEIG office at BB&N is doing and plans to do to promote an inclusive environment was very exciting and is something I am proud to be a part of. It is something I wish I had when I was in high school and want to do what I can to help students feel comfortable at their school.

5) Why is DEIG important to you?

As a person of color thinking about issues of diversity and inclusion is something I have to deal with everyday. Though I have learned that the best way to create an environment where I feel most welcomed is by having DEIG topics become commonplace in my life and the life of those around me. I also think of my younger sisters and what kind of people and world I want them to grow up in.

Highlights

The DEIG Team held a Welcome (Back) Dinner for BIPOC Families
Amani Abu Skakra, US Arabic teacher, Betsy Canaday, MS English teacher, and Sasha Bergmann, MS art teacher, completed their Global Education Benchmark Group Action Research Fellowships.
US Affinity and Alliance Leaders gathered for the first time as a whole group during orientation, in a session led by US DEIG Practitioner Maria Graciela Alcid
US DEIG Steering Committee (DSC) Co-Chairs Terry Cox and Maria Graciela Alcid shared their summer research and work on the Masks Proposals.
Dr. Liza Talusan spoke with B-12 faculty and staff to launch their summer curriculum development work. Her identity-conscious approach helped inform professional development.
After a two-year virtual collaboration, we were able to resume our BB&N-Round Square Teacher Exchange Program. Sasha Bergmann traveled to St. Constantine's International School, Tanzania to collaborate with Jeffrey Namulala.
B-12 faculty and staff participated in a summer institute about Community Engagement and Service Learning, led by Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist Candie Sanderson.
Director of Education Dr. Karina Baum talked to "The Pie" about STEM education in the United States.

Karina's remarks are here

Inspirations

DEIG it?

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Credits:

Created with images by Steve Cukrov - "Apples With Leaves Still Life" • ffly - "Sunset country road"