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St. Luke’s Breaks Barriers
“Never in my life have I been part of something so powerful and accepting. There were tears and laughter as walls of insecurities fell down.” This is how Olivia Mao, ’16, describes her experience at St. Luke’s Social Justice Leadership Summit (SJLS) held on January 31, 2015. Now in its second year, the SJLS brought together more than 40 students and 12 faculty members for a full-day exploration of social identity, privilege, ally work and social change.
Grant Russell, Director of Academic Technology says the Summit is about “having tough conversations, breaking down the barriers between us, and recognizing the underlying similarities that we all share.” Russell co-organized the event with Dr. Stephanie Bramlett, Director of Diversity and Student Life. The Summit was open to all Upper School students and featured two simultaneous workshops, one for SJLS veterans and one for first timers. Most of last year’s attendees returned and total attendance doubled—strong indicators of the Summit’s impact and St. Luke’s growing desire to build an inclusive community.
According to Dr. Bramlett: “SJLS is directly tied to the school’s mission of preparing students for lifelong learning and social responsibility. We learn how to be curious, how to ask questions, and how to be genuinely interested in the experiences of others who are different from ourselves.”
Faculty facilitator Tara Mitchell says, “SJLS is unique because it takes place at school. It removes the traditional confines of classes and allows students to truly explore themselves and engage in meaningful conversation at a deeper level.” Another facilitator, Dr. John Higgins, points out that “this event helps students build confidence and shows them they are not alone in their feelings or desire for a better world. Throughout the day, it was possible to see real change in how students view themselves and others in their community.”
Ideally, the Social Justice Leadership Summit will inspire student activism and passion. In Dr. Bramlett words, “The strength and conviction we saw this past weekend can eventually help every student at St. Luke’s be their true, authentic selves.”
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
