DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION:

THE FABRIC OF WHO WE ARE

By Akilah Edgerton, Dean of Diversity and Inclusion

Shortly after my arrival at Berkshire, I had the opportunity to introduce myself, share my personal story, be in community with other Berkshire Bears, and describe Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as “the fabric of who we are.”

You may be wondering what fabric has to do with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). I invite you to journey with me to Ghana, West Africa, a place that I love and where I sojourn annually. Over the years, I had the opportunity to observe the intricacies of weaving fabric to produce Kente cloth (an indigenous Ghanaian textile made of interwoven cloth strips of silk and cotton). While the weavers were urgently working, I noticed how focused they were. I noticed their hands and feet moving in sync producing a rhythmic melody on the machine.

When the thread did not flow according to the plan, they would stop and assess the area where the process went awry. Sometimes they communicated with one another, worked through the barriers, then continued weaving. This was an ongoing process. I share my experience because this is how DEI has to be interwoven to become the fabric of who we are as an institution.

Prior to my arrival at Berkshire, I was excited to learn about our newly drafted Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan and the process the authors engaged in. The Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Planning Committee comprised students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff, trustees, and school leaders. The committee sought to identify the needs of our community members and their hopes to experience an equitable and inclusive Berkshire. Weaving the voices of the community into the process was vital to the success of drafting the plan. In the fall of 2019, the board of trustees approved the strategic plan, and weaving DEI into systems at Berkshire immediately commenced.

When I think about the importance of having a strategic plan, my thoughts drift back to the numerous times I spent marveling at the progress of the weavers’ work in Ghana. One aspect of the process that I carry with me on a daily basis was their urgent and active engagement. To make progress with DEI at Berkshire, we have to engage with urgency. As threads are woven to produce fabric, we have to treat DEI in a similar manner: It is not meant to be implemented in a silo but woven and embedded into every aspect of the Berkshire experience. The strategic plan connects DEI to various aspects of campus life and provides guidance as we actively strive to become an equitable, anti-racist, and just community.

In addition to understanding Berkshire on a deeper level and cultivating relationships with the community, the DEI office has continued the work that was established prior to my arrival. Opportunities were created to share and listen to personal stories, thus beginning to challenge the single-story narrative that we may have towards other people. We

leaned into difficult conversations about race, invited robust discussions in affinity groups, and engaged in celebrations and learning opportunities about various cultures and identities represented in our community. We also interacted with a series of speakers who shared experiences related to the intersectionality of their identities. Some of our community members traveled to conferences outside of Berkshire to further their learning about inclusive practices, while others welcomed facilitators to campus to take us on a deeper dive.

The work that lies ahead is ongoing, reflective, intentional, and must effectively contribute to ensuring that DEI becomes the fabric of our school. The establishment of the Equity Councils for students and adults will be transformative as we begin coalition building to further weave DEI into the institution. Per students’ requests, we will increase the affinity spaces we offer on campus. Affinity groups are intentional spaces that are necessary to the growth and identity development for those who participate. Having affinity spaces will support our community members, especially those with marginalized identities, to feel a sense of belonging. Community conversations will evolve to provide a proactive avenue for cross-cultural dialogue and ally ship between community members. We are an institution of learning and will continue educating our community on topics that include but are not limited to unconscious bias, microaggressions, systemic oppression, anti-racism, and culturally relevant pedagogy.

For us to take a proactive approach, we have to closely examine our progress, identify our growth areas, and be willing to reimagine the methodology with which we engage in the work. We must avoid complacency in our journey and keep striving towards an equitable and just school. We are the weavers of DEI at Berkshire. With our head, heart, and hands working simultaneously, we will continue learning, challenging ourselves, and weaving the thread for DEI to become the fabric of who we are.

berkshireschool.org/ diversity&inclusion

Trustee Angel Pérez, Dean of Diversity and Inclusion Akilah Edgerton, and faculty member Michael Bjurlin led Berkshire’s Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan.

“The work that lies ahead is ongoing, reflective, intentional, and must effectively contribute to ensuring that DEI becomes the fabric of our school.”

—Akilah Edgerton Dean of Diversity and Inclusion

Akilah Edgerton

Dean of Diversity and Inclusion

Last August, Akilah Edgerton was appointed as the School’s dean of diversity and inclusion. She also serves as an advisor and a dorm parent. Edgerton formerly worked at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Mass., serving as the co-director of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program, as well as the 10th-grade Horizons Program teacher and a dorm parent. Outside of her role at Berkshire, she is the senior pastor at the New Generation Global Ministry in Pittsfield, a mentor with the Rites of Passage and Empowerment for Girls of Color and on the board for Ghana Educational Collaborative. Edgerton earned her bachelor’s degree in social work and global studies at North Carolina A&T State University and studied at the University of Ghana.

Last fall, Edgerton, along with trustee Angel Pérez and faculty member Michael Bjurlin, led Berkshire’s Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan, which was approved by the School and the board of trustees.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: THE FABRIC OF WHO WE ARE