Photo: Quilt, Julian Jamal Jones, an African American interdisciplinary artist and fashion photographer born and raised in Indianapolis, IN
Words of the month: Graduation Regalia
Graduation regalia includes the cap and gown, as well as other distinguishing hoods, stoles and cords that denote traditions of academic achievement. For many students it is important to wear stoles that represent their culture as they walk across the stage. In some places, students faced strict graduation dress code rules. In Oklahoma, Lena Black was prevented from wearing a sacred eagle plume on her graduation cap. Naomi Peña Villasano was told she could not wear her sash with a Mexican and American Flag. For Naomi “the sash is a reminder that not all Mexican Americans, including her parents, have the opportunity to graduate from high school and to walk across a graduation stage.”
Organizations like the Native American Rights Fund have a long history of assisting students whose schools prohibit them from wearing eagle feathers at graduation. Students should not have to chose between their cultural practices and celebrating a graduation accomplishment. This week as we celebrate our graduates, we welcome those who would like to represent their culture in their regalia and congratulate all those walking across the stage.
Pride
Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.
In an effort to make all those in the LGBTQIA+ community feel represented, especially those in the QTBIPOC community, Boston Pride For The People is excited to announce they will be organizing Pride Month celebrations in Boston on June 10th, 2023. The celebration will include a parade, a festival, and more as this new organization creates a unified city Pride celebration. Happy Pride Month!
One School One World
This year marked the return of One School One World, a beloved BB&N tradition where members of our community shared parts of their heritage and culture with us. The day was made up of fantastic performances, the tastiest food, fun games, beautiful outfits, and enough joy to overflow the NAC.
Thank you again to our family planning committee which included Hong Chen, Lauren Kong Holness, Kari Jorgenson, and Nadia Waheed. Thank you to all of the students and families who worked so hard to put together tables and performances. This event would not have been possible without all of you.
Photography by MIRONKOPRODUCTIONS
Student Voices: Graduating Leaders
Graduating DEIG Leaders from across all three campuses answered the questions: "What are you proudest of as a DEIG leader leaving this campus? What do you look forward to next year?"
I would say that not even being in the high school and being a part of the first Black student Union here at the BB&N is something that I’m very proud of. I loved the fact that Black students from 7th to 12th could come together and make a space that we wanted. I’m excited to see the progression in the BSU at the Upper School and can’t wait to be a part of it. - Princess Adeoye (rising 9th grader)
I am most proud of creating a difference in my community through discussions in my diversity groups, as well as leading activities and interviewing future staff through the SDSC. I am glad that many changes with which I have helped will remain for even just one more year, despite me leaving. I hope I can make larger and more lasting changes in the future, both in the upper school and beyond that. - Justin Hildebrandt (Rising 9th grader)
Something that I am proudest of as a DEIG leader leaving the Lower School is that I feel like I have helped make the Lower School a more inclusive and understanding campus. Whether this be through videos or assemblies, I think that I have left the Lower School better than it was when I started BB&N. One thing that I'm looking forward to next year is participating in more DEIG clubs and events. -Lucía Baum-Vardi (Rising 7th grader)
As a graduating BB&N senior, I am beyond proud of the service learning work that the Community Engagement Leadership Board has accomplished. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to collaborate with an amazing group of student leaders from all grades to organize service projects and events—such as the BB&N Afternoon of Service, Thanksgiving Basket Drive, Catie's Closet Drive, and Boston Medical Center Food Drive—for a variety of community-identified areas of need. Next year, I am looking forward to continuing my public service journey through the Phillips Brooks House Association at Harvard College, but first, I will spend my summer volunteering at Housing Families, a local family homeless shelter. - Allison Wu (Graduating Senior)
I'm most proud of the effort that my peers and I have made to make the BB&N experience more inclusive especially compared to when I first came to this school. While it's been an extreme privilege to be a Lifer, I cannot deny that especially when I was younger I never felt true belonging here. As I got older, I made it my personal priority to contribute to our community in ways that ensured that no one would have to feel the way I did growing up. From being part of directly DEI-related spaces like SDSC, Society Magazine, and Affinity/Alliance spaces to bringing more DEI into spaces like the Innovation Team (I-Team) or on hiring committees, I've devoted a lot of my time and seen a slow but visible shift. It's been comforting to know that because of my peers and my hard work, this school is headed in a better direction.
I am graduating this year, but I'm excited to continue hearing how BB&N continues to grow. I've had the pleasure of being involved in a few things this year that will come to fruition next year, so I'm also excited to see how those things turnout!- Alisa Ishii (Graduating Senior)
I am proudest of leading the BIPOC scientist assembly because I really felt like I was a leader, and I got a good public speaking experience. I'm looking forward to continuing helping the school next year, and learning about what it's like to be a leader. - Anna Gorman-Huang (Rising 7th grader)
The thing that I am most proud about leaving the BB&N Upper School is the increase in cultural and identity based events at the school. I know that a lot of things were cancelled due to COVID-19, but there have been so many events like the school's Iftar celebration, One School One World, and Resilient Voices that have made me feel seen as a person of color at BB&N. There is a lot more work to do, but I think, especially after attending the DEIG retreat, that there are tons of people willing and ready to do the work. Organizing Community Day was probably one of my greatest accomplishments at BB&N, and it wasn't just because we were able to bring it back that made me happy, but the amount of joy that people had and expressed to me after the event. All in all, I am proud of BB&N, and especially the Upper School, for the strides it has made in representation over the four years I have been here. I hope to come back in the future and see even more progress. - Fatmata Sesay (Graduating Senior)
Something I am most proud of while being a DEIG leader was how much I got to help and improve this community. I felt like this year, we got more opportunities to lead assemblies, and food donations, and others. I look forward to next year, in the middle school, where I can continue to help the school community. I hope there are similar groups where I can do that work! - Serena Moshen (rising 7th grader)
Resilient Voices: A collection of student performances exploring the identities and experiences of people of color
"Hi, my name is Nejma Reza and I am a senior graduating this year!
Last year, I started the show “Resilient Voices,” because I noticed there wasn’t a ton of diversity in the performing arts scene at BB&N. However, I knew there were plenty of talented students of color who hadn’t chosen to perform, despite the numerous musical and theatrical opportunities. I wanted a show that could not only their highlight, but also give them a platform to share their experiences and views on racism in today’s society.
It has been such a pleasure being able to direct the show for the past two years, but I am immensely excited that the show will continue to run, being directed by Rockie Yewendwossen and Ellora Roy (both ’25) next year. In the future, I hope the show will continue to be powerful and inspiring. I can’t wait to watch it next year and see Rockie and Ellora showcase their creativity through their directing next year!"
Congratulations to all the members of the cast for a wonderful performance. The DEIG department is excited to see how the show will take shape in the years to come!!
Highlights
Goodbye Jade!
With the end of the school year, we also bid goodbye to the amazing Jade DuVal, DEIG Programs and Operations Coordinator, Education Fellow, Newsletter Curator, and Educator Extraordinaire.
During her time with our office, Jade got involved in many facets of the school: she helped run DEIG student programs, coached JV basketball and MS track, read files for admissions, facilitated a Senior Spring Project seminar, taught Sexuality and Relationships at the US, and flawlessly executed a number of DEIG events, including the DEIG Student Leadership Retreat and One School One World. Jade consistently proved herself to be an invaluable supportive source of support for our team. If you interacted with us via deig@bbns.org and were pleased with the thoughtfulness and thoroughness with which we answered, you can bet that Jade was the one typing on that keyboard.
Jade's absence will be keenly felt by our team and BB&N students alike. We wish her well on her next adventure with the Peace Corps in Namibia. Thank you Jade, congratulations, good luck, and godspeed!
Looking Ahead
We hope you all have a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you this upcoming fall for DEIG events!!
Inspirations
- Read: Black & LGBTQ: Approaching Intersectional Conversations
- Watch: Paris Is Burning (1990) - Director Jennie Livingston's unparalleled documentary Paris Is Burning captures the New York City drag ball culture of the late '80s with style, grace, and intelligence. It's a powerful reflection on wealth disparity, race discrimination, and stigma surrounding the LGBTQ+ community — a must-see if there's ever been one.
- Watch: The Half of It - Starring Leah Lewis as Ellie Chiu, an introverted Chinese-American high schooler, this romantic comedy is yet another retelling of the 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac, but with an intense honesty to its subject that makes it stand out.
DEIG it?
Questions, comments, thoughts, or feedback ? Email us at deig@bbns.org. or complete our short survey.
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This month's newsletter was curated by Jade DuVal, DEIG Programs and Operations Coordinator and Education Fellow.
Credits:
Created with an image by izikmd - "Close up, ladder in bright colors of the rainbow. Pride and flag of freedom. Steps"