7 minute read
Students Lead the Way
By Cathy Morrison
Vulnerability” was the theme of the first annual Regional Student Diversity Summit (RSDS) in San Diego. The February event focused on “respectful dialogue, the relationship between current and systemic issues, and the potential youth have to catalyze change within their communities and beyond.”
With 10 months of planning, 16 students from four San Diego independent schools hosted a virtual event that drew 300 participants from 29 schools across three states. The students coordinated the kind of conference they wanted to attend with an infrastructure to continue to build upon. Bishop’s students involved in establishing RSDS include Lila Chitayat ’21, Elias Herrera ’22 and Sean Kim ’21, along with Director of Diversity and Community Life David Thompson Jr. (pictured below). The other local schools were Francis Parker, La Jolla Country Day and Pacific Ridge.
The depth and breadth of speakers’ and facilitators’ backgrounds was impressive. From the opening keynote by nationallyacclaimed author, researcher, activist and professor, Dr. Bettina Love, to the dozen workshops and 10 affinity spaces, to the closing lecture by author and counselor Alicia Oglesby, the event inspired attendees to begin—or continue—their journey from awareness to action. Students and adults participated with the entire conference hosted in Zoom “rooms” by Bishop’s faculty and staff volunteers.
Current events lent an unexpected sense of urgency. As the organizers pointed out, “When we first met to plan our conference, we would never have foreseen the scale of events during the summer of 2020. We believe in thinking critically, equitably and justly, so we wanted to organize a regional summit regarding DEI topics in a comfortable environment.”
For students, the conference being by, about and for them is key. Bishop’s students have always come away from the National Association of Independent Schools’ annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference feeling seen, heard, connected and empowered. When the pandemic shut down that national experience, students who had looked forward to attending were keen to find a way to create a virtual opportunity.
Chinese teacher Esther Hsiao hosted the Zoom space for the LGBTQ+ affinity group and recalls, “The most powerful moment for me was when I realized that the unique format of a Zoom conference actually provided a safe space for participants who were not out to their families or friends. Even though they could only ‘speak up’ by typing on chat (fearing they could be overheard otherwise), the space provided an opportunity for them to see others like them and to feel seen and accepted. A space like that gives people who feel isolated hope and courage. At that moment I felt grateful and honored to be part of RSDS, though all I did was host a Zoom room.”
The long, collaborative process for the students organizing the summit laid the foundation for a successful event. Elias Herrera ’22 explains, “Initially, we had discussions about the general structure. Who is the target audience, what issues are we focused on, what do we want students to take away from this, why does what we do matter? Despite essentially being strangers (we met only virtually), we openly shared our ideas. As the process progressed, we began discussing logistics of the conference: What will the schedule be, what is our budget, who are we inviting to speak? To have efficient and productive meetings, we developed a ‘democratic’ system where we proposed and voted on ideas. As the conference got closer, we distributed the work throughout four different committees: workshops, logistics, social media/outreach and affinity spaces. Each committee was assigned specific responsibilities.”
Elias adds that the biggest surprise for him was, “We were able to meet virtually consistently for nearly 10 months despite challenges that we faced from the pandemic. I feel grateful and proud to have worked alongside such a motivated, diverse and enthusiastic group of student leaders from across San Diego. With the strong ambition and dedication of all the members of our cohort, we were able to effectively navigate all the challenges of collaborating virtually.”
Head of School Ron Kim says, “I was impressed by what the students were able to organize. The disappointment of not being able to attend a national conference led to this idea of a regional group creating their own experience. The work and follow-through to put this together was remarkable. I have attended many DEI conferences and presented as well, and this was as well-organized as any that I have experienced. The sessions were a great balance of inspiration, education, empowerment, empathy and bonding. For the students to know that they have the agency and the power to make a difference is a wonderful realization for them.”
In her closing remarks Alicia Oglesby said, “Students have always been at the
center of social justice and activism,” and adults need to “activate their agency and expression so this work can go forward.”
Students who registered were told, “All we need is an open mind, a commitment to change and a readiness for respectful dialogue.” Many workshops were designated as student-only spaces, but some topics were available for adult participants. There was something for everyone, with particular focus on the concept that each audience member brought their own unique experiences to the table.
Bishop’s Head of Middle School Harlan Klein, who hosted a Zoom room, notes, “The keynote speakers were inspiring and candid, the variety of workshops offered was impressive. The connections made and camaraderie in the affinity spaces were powerful. The youthful nature of the event made it a pleasure to play a small part as a Zoom room facilitator. These student leaders have developed something with legs and the potential to be even further developed by students who take this conference on in subsequent years.”
As a junior, Elias will be a bridge to the next iteration of RSDS and shares, “I am excited to see how we can evolve as a group and provide a bright future for this conference. I am optimistic that RSDS will continue to foster a safe environment, whether it be virtual or in-person, to encourage conversations about our school communities regarding a sense of belonging, self-expression and a mutual understanding of shared identities. Additionally, I am optimistic that we will facilitate difficult, yet necessary conversations and provide a place for students to embrace vulnerability.”
The hope is that future RSDS events will be held in person and that each of the organizing schools will have an opportunity to host the conference on their respective campuses.
Imagining how the Summit might develop further, Interim Director of College Counseling Ben Lah offers, “My biggest takeaway, aside from hearing individual stories which are always compelling, was simply that more people needed to be there. These opportunities are not for the sake of ‘woke culture,’ but an effort to develop cross-cultural understanding.” Ideally, the conference can go beyond “those who are already committed to change,” to include “people who can really benefit from hearing others’ stories and learn why apathy is not okay.”
The RSDS’s remarkable website recommends resources for further learning, understanding and implementation, stating that, “Student activism, involvement and initiative should not stop with our conference...we hope that all participants will bring what they have learned to their own communities and promote social equity.”
Elias concludes, “There is great value in discovering shared experiences and enhancing each and every voice in our school communities. By promoting diversity, we are able to consider perspectives and opinions beyond those we have already developed or were shaped in our early lives by family and friends. When we are faced with perspectives different from our own, we are given the opportunity to think more justly, equitably and critically about our own beliefs and view the world in new, fresh ways.”
