Beyond the Gates of Lausanne

Serving others is encouraged from when a student enters Pre-Kindergarten to the moment they cross the stage at graduation. Even during a challenging year, our Lynx continued to serve because it is an essential part of our students’ experience both on campus and beyond the gates of Lausanne.

Top photo: India Norris ‘22 gives a speech about Gen Z’s involvement in activism at the Fedex Women in Leadership Conference.

Bottom photo: India Norris ‘22 loves on Hambone, one of the dogs she fosters.

INDIA NORRIS ’22

In the summer of 2020, India Norris ‘22 attended several virtual discussions led by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization which centered on police brutality and systemic racism, especially in school systems.

“These panels were a learning experience because they served as a place to hear about other high school and college students’ experiences with social injustice,” said India.

India’s in-person participation with RFK was limited this past year. Still, the rising senior has been connected with the organization for many years, learning more about how to “speak truth to power.”

“I’ve learned how to advocate against injustice by understanding historical events, having uncomfortable conversations and being involved in local communities. I recently decided to construct a website for Hero and Sage Salon located in the Crosstown Concourse building as part of my CAS experience. Hero and Sage Salon is unique because it is one of the few salons in a modernized area to provide styling services for Black hair. I am glad to have been allowed to contribute to an issue that does not impact me.”

The Lynx student’s drive to help others has been a part of her character for as long as she can remember, and she shares her passion for serving with her family.

“I stood up to help my local community thanks to what I was taught since a young age, which is that I am extremely fortunate, so I should help those who are not. My family has set a strong example for me: generosity is a gesture that we give to others out of empathy, not religion nor altruism. Helping the community gives me perspective on others’ situations, so I keep an open mind in return.”

In addition to her social justice efforts, India also has a passion for helping animals. Throughout the past year, she volunteered for All 4’s Rescue League to provide dogs with food, vaccinations and shelter in impoverished Memphis communities.

“The organization’s founders were happy to have me on board, especially to set up igloolike doghouses in backyards to which many of the dogs are confined,” said India. “I mainly worked with All 4’s in the summer of 2020. Year-round, my family works with Stray Network Animal Rescue, which works to provide stray dogs with foster homes. We almost always have a foster dog in the house, whether it stays with us for a few days or a few months.”

Lausanne Faculty and Staff Assist in the Fight Against Covid-19

To help create a healthy and safe community, a group of Lausanne faculty and staff members stepped up to serve in the process of getting Memphians vaccinated. Troy Graham, Pam Pointer, Will Starner, Heather Clagett, Cameron Hadskey, Michael Naya, and Mark Page spent a weekend over the winter volunteering at a vaccination site to assist healthcare professionals with operations.

SIMI FALEYE ‘22

Since last August, Simi Faleye ‘22 has been raising money for various organizations by making and selling jewelry online.

During lockdown, from March through the end of the school year, Simi started watching the news a lot more. With the pandemic, political campaigning, natural disasters and civil unrest the news was constantly covering, the Lynx student began to feel overwhelmed with how much there was going on in the world and how little control she had over it.

“All the negative things I saw going on around the world and thinking about how many people were in worse situations than me empowered me to do something that helps others and also spreads hope and positivity,” said Simi.

“At first, I was looking for places that I could volunteer, but COVID made it hard to find availability, and then I thought of the idea to make and sell bracelets with positive messages and donate the proceeds to different organizations.”

So far Simi has donated proceeds to CARE, the American Red Cross and The Life Church of Memphis.

LYNXSERVE SEASON OF SERVICE

Over the winter, our Lynx participated in a Season of Service, which offered students different ways to serve safely during Covid-19.

In alignment with one of the International Baccalaureate Programme’s core values, LynxServe promotes the development of lifelong learners through service-learning opportunities that help students engage with the community.

Lausanne’s Lower School kicked off the season with Pennies for a Purpose, a coin drive that allowed them to bring in their change to fund our food drive with Crump Elementary and school supplies for Promise Academy.

For our middle and upper schoolers, the operation launched with Pajama Week. Students had the opportunity to donate $10 to LynxServe to wear their PJs for an entire week. All donations funded holiday food box turkeys for Crump Elementary, at-home school supplies for Promise Academy and additional holiday needs for our community partners.

“The LynxServe Season of Service pushes our efforts to serve and invest in our Memphis and global community through a variety of projects,” said Director of Lausanne 360° Rachel Hammons. “We understand 2020 has been difficult for everyone and Season of Service is an opportunity for us to make an effort to add joy to our community and our own lives.”

Our lower schoolers also put together Holiday Healthcare Worker Care packages for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Middle and Upper School provided food boxes to alleviate food insecurity.

Top left photo: Luc Josse ‘31, Olivia Terry ‘31, Ayden Davillier ‘31 and Aaren Kumar ‘31 showcase the money raised during the coin drive.