One of the best field trips we take every fall — maybe all year long — is to the annual MARD会议 (Mid Atlantic Region Diversity Conference), which took place last weekend. 部分车间, part guest speakers, the goal of the conference is to simultaneously expose and celebrate students’ various identities. You’re encour年龄d to be real and to talk frankly about who you are with others who are like you, but also with those who aren’t to broaden their minds and build empathy.
The event’s “silent movement” activity really epitomizes the goal of the day: Keynote speaker and activist Rodney Glasgow gathers all 400 student and 教师 attendees together in a gymnasium, then asks students to silently answer 问题s about their race, 宗教, 性取向, 经济背景, 家庭动力学, 学习的挑战, physical disabilities, etc by stepping in and out of a circle in the middle of the gym. It takes bravery and vulnerability to self-identify in this way. As a teacher, it’s powerful to watch. “Were you honest in your responses?” Rodney asked students at the conclusion of the exercise. “Were you comfortable in being honest? 如果没有，为什么没有呢?”
This was 韦德娱乐app下载地址’s third year attending the event. Each year, more and more students sign up to go — this year, twice as many kids went as last year. Here’s what a few of our students had to say, and why we’ll be back for a fourth time next year:
“MARD was such a great experience. Being with people who can understand being biracial or struggling with the same issues regarding 宗教 or family structure was such a comforting thing. And as much as I felt comfort through that connection, I at times felt uncomfortable because of the powerful conversations we had about almost unspoken issues in the world today. The knowledge gained is indescribable. Thank you for the opportunity.” paola“21
“MARD is always a great experience, and I enjoy my visit every year. Every year it seems to get better and better, and I look forward to hearing other point of views and voices from all the different ethnicities. I wish the event happen more often!” 特洛伊的20
“This was my second year going to MARD, and I swear I 学习 new things each time. Being at MARD allows me to truly represent myself and be surrounded by people who understand what I have been through or am going through. It’s such an open and accepting space to be real. We talked about things we normally wouldn't in the classroom at a level of closeness that shapes your way of thinking. I truly appreciate these trips and you can already mark me down for next year.” 阿梅尔20
最后, a few words from my colleague, 韦德娱乐app下载地址 teacher Sarah Lanzetta, on her first MARD experience:
“The MARD会议 was incredibly impactful for me. 我仍然, 一周后, processing the experience through many lenses: as a first-time participant, 教师 advisor to the students attending, 教育家, 教练, 女人, 妈妈。, 妻子, 女儿, 有色人种, 特权人士, person whose privileges and rights are being 问题ed and/or taken away, 一个人.
There were so many moments, big and small, that resonated with me in one manner or another. I had feelings of pride, watching our Solebury students be brave enough and passionate enough to speak or show their truth in front of a crowd of 400+ peers and adults. I had feelings of connectedness in sessions with other 教育家s who have a 分享d goal of trying to create safe spaces for our students (our future) to simultaneously 成长, 学习, 分享, 问题, excel, and be challenged while not being be beaten down by all of the pressures, 恐惧, 不公平现象, and frustrations of life. I also had (and continue to have) feelings of hope as our Solebury students talked to us and each other on the ride home, on campus afterwards in one-on-one chats, 在组装中, standing with excitement in front of their peers with smiles and tears, arm in arm with each other with ideas for how to keep the momentum going and asking of us, 大人们, how to bring the feelings and experiences of the MARD conference here to Solebury so that the movement and momentum will continue and be expanded.
我仍然 processing, but I’m in...I’ve been impacted and there is no turning back.” 莎拉Lanzetta