Q&A
MORE THAN A MOMENT
TYNEETA CANONGE, DIRECTOR OF BLAKE’S OFFICE OF EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (OECE), OFFERS INSIGHTS ON HOW WE NAVIGATE THE PRESENT, SHAPE THE FUTURE AND RECKON WITH THE PAST. Together with her five OECE team members, Canonge builds the framework that supports Blake’s goals of pluralism, equity, inclusivity and engagement. But, she notes, success ultimately depends on the individual and collective efforts of a school community committed to the lifelong work of anti-racism and anti-bias. Editor’s note: In addition to the director, Blake’s OECE team includes the director of global programming, the PK-12 department chair for equity and instruction, the LearningWorks executive director, the service learning and community engagement director and GLBTQ support and advocacy. Question: Can you describe the role of Blake’s OECE? Answer: Our team supports the school in recognizing, appreciating and affirming diverse perspectives and in building curriculum, policies and programs that foster intercultural competency. My focus is partnering with others to develop strategic planning and to find opportunities to engage the whole school 8 Cyrus
community in collaborative ways to create a vibrant, inclu sive institutional community. Other members of my team work on specific areas of the school’s commitment to pluralism, such as LGBTQIA+ advocacy, equity and instruction, global programming and service learning. The beautiful thing is it's a very multi-faceted approach. Q: What are OECE’s priorities and do you see them chang ing in the pandemic or as the country continues to respond to the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of the police? A: COVID-19 and the protests happening around the world have certainly garnered our attention. The OECE vision
