Re-working the System

Brianna Gaddy ‘12 is a lawyer with a mission. Her goal? To fi ght systemic racism to create a more inclusive and equitable legal system for all—one judicial outcome, one policy at a time.

Gaddy did not always know she wanted to be a lawyer. A love of language and international travel—fi rst ignited during her time at CA, thanks to a transformative world exchange trip to Chile—led her fi rst to pursue majors in global studies and Spanish at the University of North Carolina.

“Global studies encompassed so many things I cared about. It had an international dimension. I could focus on women’s issues, on social issues,” she explains. “I was immediately drawn to classes, particularly geography classes, that focused in on the interconnectedness of political, social, and economic systems.”

Upon graduation, Gaddy, who loved teaching children—having tutored kids in an aft erschool program in Durham throughout her undergraduate years—and had developed an abiding love of Spain during a positive study abroad experience, jumped at the opportunity to teach abroad through a program off ered by the Spanish government. She moved to the small town of Murcia in southeastern Spain to teach English to students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

In Murcia, she saw fi rsthand how the complex historical, social, and economic dynamics she had studied in college played out in the lives of her students. “Th e dynamics of race, of language, of culture, the challenges that faced my Moroccan immigrant students in Murcia, they were reminiscent of the issues that I had seen tutoring in Durham,” explains Gaddy.

“I realized that these issues are much bigger than student/teacher dynamics, much bigger than teaching,” she continues. “As a student, how do you care about learning English, or language arts or math, when you are prevented from being your best self? When you aren’t given the best chance in life? When you are food insecure? When you are marginalized?”

She realized the enormity of the issues at hand called for systemic change. “I couldn’t aff ect the kind of change I wanted to see on the day-to-day level of teaching. Th ere were laws that needed to be changed, policies that needed to be developed.”

She quickly turned her sights on law school. And, aft er taking the LSAT, was accepted to American University, known for its focus on international human rights.

She initially dreamed of one day taking a position with the United Nations. She quickly discovered, however, that diffi culties enforcing international law, coupled with a challenging job market, would signifi cantly limit her ability to eff ect change.

Instead, an early internship with Th e Honorable Reggie Walton in Washington, D.C., would expose her to an interesting alternative, opening her eyes to a surprising new passion for labor and employment law. “I loved how it combined black-letter law with social and economic issues,” off ers Gaddy.

Th at introduction would ultimately lead her to pursue another internship, this time with the Employment and Opportunity Commission. It was a particularly formative experience. “My work with the EEOC helped me to understand how individual cases eventually give rise to implemented policies,” explains Gaddy. And, in policy work, Gaddy discovered her long sought-aft er outlet to eff ect meaningful change.

How can employment and labor policy contribute to signifi cant social and anti-racist change? To explain, Gaddy off ers an example, pointing to something that, on its face, might seem fairly innocuous: dress codes.

“Some dress codes prohibit certain hairstyles, like afros or dreads,” explains Gaddy. “While not discriminatory on their face—they don’t outright name Black people as the intended targets—their implementation has a discriminatory eff ect.

“While it may seem a small matter—a hairstyle—these are the microaggressions that add up to systemic racism and larger inequalities,” says Gaddy. In schools, it might mean that Black students get more suspensions for dress code violations, an early condemnation of Blackness. In the workplace, it might mean that Black women or men are discouraged from applying or working for particular companies or in a specifi c fi eld.

She notes that current shortcomings in our legal system make it hard to combat this

kind of discrimination. “Right now, the responsibility is on the aggrieved party to prove something called disparate impact, which is diffi cult.” She points to the recent CROWN Act legislation—which prohibits discrimination based on hair, and which has been adopted as law in California, New York, and is pending legislation in other states and counties— as a step in the right direction.

However, until that kind of antidiscriminatory legislation is enacted uniformly across the United States, Gaddy is turning her attention to policy. “Employment policies can make the fi ght easier,” she off ers. “We can encourage companies to reconsider their policies, to not simply follow the law at its most basic, but to go further, to ask, for example, ‘what are we doing in our workplace to make sure that Black people are comfortable going in for an interview.’”

Gaddy’s ultimate goal? To eff ect signifi cant changes in the legal system that refl ect an increased focus on inclusivity and equity, and a better awareness of how systemic racism and socio-economic diff erences infl uence and are shaped by judicial outcomes.

“Th ere is a big divide when you come into court based around the resources you have at your disposal, based on the education that you have had, based on your background. We have to fi gure out ways to bridge that gap,” off ers Gaddy.

“We have to ensure that people are educated about their rights, that they understand the legal process, that they have a fair experience. We have to make sure that judges understand the larger social, economic, political systems that are in play in a given case and that their decisions are equitable.”

She’ll be doing precisely that in the fall when she starts a year-long clerkship with Judge Jeannie J. Hong in Baltimore City Circuit Court. As a clerk, Gaddy will be performing legal research, ensuring that her judge has the information needed to consider all dimensions of a case and render an equitable decision. And, she’ll be helping to draft opinions that clearly lay out the rationale and legal principles behind a ruling.

While not all lawyers opt to clerk, for Gaddy, it is an important step. “I think it is crucial to get an insider view of how courts work, to see how diff erent people interact with the judicial system. I’m passionate about helping the clients that are before me. On the family court docket in Baltimore City, many litigants are prose—they are representing themselves in court—so we’ll have to do a little bit more to ensure they understand the process and have an equitable and fair experience.”

On completion of her clerkship, Gaddy will be moving into a permanent position as a lawyer with Miles and Stockbridge in Baltimore. Th ere, she’ll be working in their Labor, Employment, Benefi ts, and Immigration division, likely on a range of labor and employment matters such as representing employers and businesses in matters including discrimination and harassment, family medical leave, retaliation, and wage and hour issues.

Gaddy admits that her work is diffi cult given the current human rights

climate, with systemic manifestations of racism and violence against the Black community coming to stark light. “Sometimes, it is hard to stay motivated to work within a system that hasn’t worked for people like me. It can be hard to keep going,” she admits. “Why am I studying for the bar, why am I focused on a test, when I have seen so many instances where the justice system has let down people who look like me?”

In those darker moments, she fi nds strength and perseverance by tapping into her larger “why” and recentering on her goals. “I try to remember the broader reasons why I chose this path—my passion for changing laws to create a more equitable society, for working to bring justice for all members of our community regardless of their background, privilege, or resources. “Th inking about the diff erence I can make once I can practice, it helps me put my head down and keep doing the work, to get over the next hurdle.”

She also recognizes the importance of being a role model to others in a fi eld that is one of the least diverse of all professions. “Only 2% of lawyers are Black women. I want little Black girls to know that they can achieve this—that they can be lawyers, that they can be in positions of power, that they too can make important change.”

Equity Work at CA

Racism in the United States is no less a crisis, no less pressing, and presents no less a threat to our society and our community than the current coronavirus pandemic. And it must be met with the same sense of urgency and thoughtful, proactive response.

In June, Cary Academy issued a letter to the community reaffi rming our values and reiterating CA’s longstanding commitment to the hard—at times uncomfortable— introspective work of diversity, equity, and inclusion that have been core values since we fi rst opened our doors.

We pledged to be part of the solution and to work together to engage in anti-racist work to ensure that CA is a safe space for all our students to thrive. And to prepare our faculty, staff , and students to combat racism and to be the positive change that is so needed in our world.

We recognize that this demands large-scale institutional introspection and thoughtful, meaningful action. And it requires active listening from our community members about their personal experiences—even when that might be diffi cult.

Th is summer, Director of Equity and Community Engagement Danielle Johnson-Webb reached out through a series of Zoom calls to initiate those conversations. In a safe space, alums, parents, and students shared their stories, experiences, and perspectives—both good and bad—of their time at CA. Th ese ongoing conversations will help to inform the work that lies ahead, including professional development eff orts; ongoing dialogue work with Essential Partners; curriculum audits, refi nements, and additions; and policy review.

Th is work is complex, crucial, and never-ending. Our planning eff orts—by necessity—are fl uid and ongoing. As we move forward, we feel it essential to be transparent in our thinking and planning as we engage in what is sometimes messy and challenging work.

To that end, we are launching united.cary.academy. Here, we will provide information about our equity work of the last few years—a foundation on which we will be building. We will also off er regular updates on new anti-racist eff orts, sharing our planning process and the thoughts shaping those eff orts, as well as the lessons that we are learning together. We welcome your feedback and engagement as we continue to pursue this important work now and in the years to come.

In the meantime, this summer, every employee in the Cary Academy community will engage in professional development eff orts that are grounded in anti-racist work. Together, we will be reading and discussing the following books, laying a foundation and shared vocabulary for the work of the coming year. We invite all members of our community to join us.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism Robin DiAngelo

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption Bryan Stevenson

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race Beverly Daniel Tatum

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You Ibram X. Kendi

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness Michelle Alexander

White Awake: An Honest Look at What It Means to be White Daniel Hill

Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People Mahzarin R. Banaji

Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race Debby Irving

How to be an Anti-racist Ibram X. Kendi

We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom Bettina Love

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing Dr. Joy Degruy

The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing Anneliese A. Singh, Derald Wing Sue, et al.

Over 220 students, parents, employees, alumni, pets, and friends from the CA community ran more than 700 miles during the VIRTUAL CA 5K.

Snapshots

Dozens of CA students, families, friends, and community members turned out for Center for Community Engagement’s BOND PARK SCAVENGEXTRAVAGANZA for a summer morning fi lled with fun super-spy themed missions, James Bond trivia, and socially distant community bonding.

Members of the CA community worked together to reduce hunger during the STRAWBERRY PICK ‘N GIVE.

CA students found creative ways to perform together and for each other during the VIRTUAL VARIETY SHOW and concerts.

The Class of 2024 marked the conclusion of their Middle School journey in virtual style during 8TH GRADE CELEBRATION AND PARADE.

On Earth Day, MS students were asked to go outside, have fun, and explore their world while participating in a selection of activities. US students held a GREEN SPIRIT WEEK to show how blue and gold make green.

Social distancing couldn’t dampen Charger pride during SPIRIT WEEK!

2008–2012

Julie Nicole Pechanek ‘08 and Kyle Matthew Meyers were married on October 26, 2019 in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Three graduates of Cary Academy were part of the bridal party: (starting from 2nd from left) bridesmaids Anne (Osoro) Wood ‘08, Mary Beth (Harbour) Barrack ‘09, and Maid of Honor Kaity Pechanek ‘11 . Following the ceremony at Morse Park Meadows, a reception was held at The 1927 Lake Lure Inn and Spa. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii. 1

Claire Bridges ‘11, a Faculty of Medicine and Health PhD candidate at the University of Sydney is part of a multidisciplinary team of students and faculty hoping to create a “simple, low cost ventilator solution to assist the COVID-19 effort.” Working in partnership with other top Australian public health agencies and experts, this team has already created a prototype of the “CoVida,” a ventilator that is easy to manufacture and provides the same level of respiratory support than more expensive, existing devices. 2

After graduating from UNC, Alsey Davidson ‘12 has worked as a developer for wind and solar projects for the last few years. She is starting Harvard Business School in the fall with a goal of going into banking or private equity in the renewable energy industry. Her class will include a familiar face, Michael Kahn ‘09.

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2015

Ivana Premasinghe will begin medical school at Duke University School of Medicine this August. Ivana graduated from Duke University in May 2019 with double majors in Biology and Spanish and a minor in Chemistry. She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa- with graduation with distinction in Biology and graduation with highest distinction in Spanish. While applying to medical school after college, Ivana spent her gap year as the Spanish and Yoga teacher at the International Preschool of Raleigh, and she continued volunteering with the leadership club she founded, Leaders UNITE. Ivana is excited to begin medical school in August, and she is thrilled to return to Duke for another four years!

2017

Sarah Bodmer will be graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 2021. She was recently engaged to fellow USAFA graduate Connor Clancy. They will be getting married in June 2021. 3

2018

Trey Murphy III will transfer to play basketball at the University of Virginia. Murphy holds CA records in fi eld goals made, three-pointers made and free throws made. The 6-foot-8, 200-pound guard led Rice in scoring as a sophomore.

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2019

Suki Bristol launched a Custom Ink Campaign to provide food to frontline healthcare workers while supporting small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

Anthony Guzzo, Rohit Jain, Milen Patel, Viraj Shah, and James Taylor have created an app that uses crowdsourced data to help consumers track what’s in stock and fi nd needed supplies at local Triangle area stores. shelfCheck—now available on GooglePlay and the Apple App Store—was recently featured on WRAL TV’s TechWire blog.

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Photo Credit: University of Sydney

Staying Connected

Last year, many of us didn’t even have a Zoom account. This year, dozens of alumni chatted via Zoom with their classmates, connecting and catching up during this challenging time. Through social media and campus updates, we have been able to stay virtually connected to our alumni across the map. We look forward to when we can meet again in person!

Members of the class of 2009

“ I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to attend Cary Academy. I would not be where I am today had it not been for the knowledge I gained and the life skills I developed while at CA. Being a part of the Alumni Council allows me to give back by being involved with initiatives aimed at strengthening our alumni community and contributing at a large-scale to make an impact on CA’s future.”

—JENNIFER CASH ‘09

Cary Academy Alumni Council, President, 2020–2021

ALUMNI COUNCIL

We are happy to announce that we will be re-launching our CA Alumni Council this fall. We are currently looking for Triangle-area alumni leaders who are interested in serving the larger association by helping to spearhead our engagement and fundraising efforts. Interested in helping out, but no longer live in the Triangle? There are ample other volunteer opportunities to engage with other alumni and current students. Please email Alumni Relations Director Kara Mulligan at kara_mulligan@caryacademy.org for details.