The Brunswick Trust Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Across divisions, students heard from classmates and speakers in January about the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Serving as speaker at Middle and Upper School assemblies was educator, art enthusiast, and former NFL/CFL football player Billy McBride. With his own remarkable life story as the backdrop, McBride spoke to Upper Schoolers in a morning assembly organized and led by Diversity in Action.

Having grown up in Syracuse, N.Y., McBride moved out of his family home at 17. He survived being stabbed as a young man, and went on to graduate from Tennessee State University. After graduation, he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and played the majority of his professional football career in the Canadian Football League.

He later received his master’s degree in exercise sciences and sports studies from Smith College — today, he serves as associate athletic director for diversity and inclusion, the director of club sports, and as a senior coach at Amherst College.

“I get to offer you a concise look at my survival and my blessings, as a young man who had to learn to trust and love through those who filled my empty tool box with nuggets of confidence, courage, faith and compassion, and respect for my fellow citizens,” he told students. “But most important, it is love that has to be shared in order to live a meaningful and productive life.”

McBride, along with Associate Director of DEIB Sean Stanley and Assistant DEIB Director Thomas Nins, read an excerpt from Dr. King’s famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail before students broke into advisory groups for small-group and “fish bowl” discussions led by DIA.

McBride also spoke to Middle Schoolers, adjusting his message to urge courageous choices.

He also had a fabulous visit at the Lower School, where he met with students in a class and signed autographs.

“I talked about love a lot,” McBride said of his visit to Brunswick. “Love of self, love of community, love of learning. It’s impactful.

“I left recharged,” he said.

Fourth graders led a Lower School assembly to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. in mid-January. Students started the gathering with the anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing — seven fourth graders then took turns at the podium to offer details of Dr. King’s life and work, including the March on Washington, his famous I Have a Dream speech, and its connection to the Declaration of Independence.

The assembly also featured a video put together by Lower School technology teacher Tim Coupe, as well as comments from Head of Lower School Katie Signer, connecting Dr. King’s message with the work of the Student Council Ambassadors, who kicked off the year with lessons and reminders on how to show respect and do what is right.

Pre School students celebrated Black History Month by studying famous Black Americans like Jean Michel Basquiat, Louis Armstrong, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Maya Angelou, and George Washington Carver. Each class presented its findings during Friday assemblies — visitors can view the projects on the bulletin board in the main lobby.

’Wick’s youngest also learned about the importance of the African American National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. To culminate all of this work, boys created a slideshow highlighting students engaging in the true spirit of Black History Month: togetherness, love, brotherhood, and kindness.