Social Justice and Equity Work

Artwork made by Pablo Cristi. Chair of Visual Art.

This is a challenging time. Many of us feel that we are living in a triple pandemic: COVID -19, especially its disproportionate impact on Black and LatinX communities, the economic crisis, and the ongoing acts of racism and brutality toward Black people.

This past spring our community came together. Families, OSA staff, and students attended rallies and in solidarity marched together for a common cause—Black Lives Matter. We are proud of our teachers and students who expressed themselves through the painting of striking murals on our building and in the Uptown neighborhood. We take a stand as a school community to say that we do not tolerate racism.

At the beginning of 2020-21, OSA invested in a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion research position. The school will take a global look—staffing, recruitment, programming & curriculum, repertoire, and core values—in order to build an equity rubric for the school that will be implemented through the school’s next Strategic Plan. OSA has invested in a year-long residency with a seasoned and trained facilitator to provide ongoing, mandatory Professional Development workshops and trainings with all staff. This yearlong training is just the start; dismantling systemic racism is our ongoing and long-term work.

Mural conceptualized by OSA Visual Art alum Rachel Dharmapalan & OSA Fashion student Mooka Dharmapalan, and installed with help from Pablo Cristi, Chair of OSA Visual Art, and fellow OSA students.