Martlets Attend Statewide Diversity Leadership Conference

More than 20 Westminster students and faculty traveled to Loomis Chaffee School April 23 to attend a daylong conference on identity, equity and inclusion. The 15th Annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference titled Change Matters: You Matter welcomed more than 500 participants from across the state and was hosted by the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools.

 

Westminster helped lead this year’s efforts as one of two training sites for middle school and high school facilitators. In addition, seven Martlets were selected to serve as facilitators and run afternoon sessions: Jordan Clapprood ’18, Meg Cournoyer ’19, Amanda Liu ’18, Kiki Magid ’19, Chloe Sealy ’18, Mia Stevens ’18 and Celenah Watson ’19.

 

The keynote speaker was Dr. Howard Stevenson, the Constance Clayton Professor of Urban Education, professor of Africana studies, and former chair of the Applied Psychology and Human Development Division at the University of Pennsylvania.  The author of “Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools,” Dr. Stevenson discussed how people should not focus on blame but instead learn how to identify racial tension and address situations in healthy ways.

 

The morning session also included student performances and reflections from students and adults. After a lunch break, participants joined small-group breakouts that allowed for group dialogue and self-reflection for first-time and returning conference attendees, as well as for adults and members of the graduating class.