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Putting Ideas Into Action At People of Color Conference
Last week, 11 members of the St. Luke’s community went to Tampa, Florida for the annual National Association of Independent School’s People of Color Conference/Student Diversity Leadership Conference (PoCC/SDLC). The 2015 PoCC/SDLC had more than 4,000 participants—the greatest number of attendees in its 28 year history.
Students participated in three days of building cross-cultural competency skills, developing effective strategies for social justice, and practicing networking skills. Ajit Akole ‘18 commented, "SDLC allowed me to gain new perspectives on social justice issues affecting our community and country. At the same time, it provided a strong, relatable community where no one was judged and everyone's voice mattered.”
SDLC participants included: BJ Buckle ‘16, Gabby Finley ‘17, Charlie Hobbs ‘17, Ajit Akole ‘18, and Adiah Price-Tucker ‘18. Gabby was selected to be a peer facilitator and skillfully lead a group of about twenty high school students who were participating in the conference for the first time.
St. Luke’s Director of Diversity and Student Life Dr. Stephanie Bramlett co-led a workshop entitled, “Ideas to Action!” with her former colleague, Otis Douce, of the Hun School of Princeton. Bramlett shared, “My goal was to create a mission-centric program that would build support within the community.” More than sixty educators attended the presentation and worked in small groups to explore new ideas for their schools and consider all of the people and resources needed to make those ideas happen.
Upper School Music Director, Dale Griffa, and Dr. Bramlett also represented St. Luke’s as part of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Commission on Diversity in Independent Schools (CODIS). Griffa’s presentation was about the skillful response to hurtful moments, and Bramlett’s presentation was about the power of words.
SLS faculty members at the conference included: Head of School Mark Davis, Director of Diversity and Student Life Stephanie Bramlett, Upper School Music Director Dale Griffa, Community Life Associate Noel Thomas, World Language teacher Yiyong Feng, and Director of Safety & Security Troy Haynie.
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.
