Meeting the Moment

MEETING THE MOMENT

Pivoting to virtual spaces allowed Prep for Prep staff and students to innovate and adapt to our community’s evolving needs. Take a look at some of the newly launched and expanded programs at Prep.

ASPECTS OF LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM

Prep for Prep’s inaugural Aspects of Leadership Symposium showcased the curiosity, passion, and problem-solving skills of our high school students to a broader virtual audience. Aspects is a three-module leadership curriculum where students read defining texts on leadership, participate in role-play exercises, review case studies, and lead workshops to discuss social and racial justice issues meaningful to them. Guided by alumni mentors, students presented research at the virtual symposium on these topics:

The Crisis of New York City’s Specialized High Schools

Integrating Time from Experience in the Entorhinal Cortex

Designing for the Future: Promoting Inclusive Urban Spaces

Racial Disparities in STEM

Black Women in White Spaces

Black at. Now what?

View highlights of the symposium on our YouTube channel.

PILLAR PALS

Founded by sixth-grader Aniya S. (XLIII), Pillar Pals is a peer to peer academic and emotional support group for Preparatory Component students. Contingent 43 was the first Prep for Prep contingent to start the entire program remotely. Aniya found that in speaking with her friends, beyond the guidance that teachers and advisors provided, they were sometimes more comfortable sharing their challenges with fellow students and wanted a peer-led effort around building community. With help from Nikole Smith, Prep’s Director of Academic Programs, Aniya launched Pillar Pals. She hosted sessions with fellow students to explore topics such as identity, self-awareness, and mental wellness. The Pillar Pals also created a Study Buddy program to help each other with subjects where they may be struggling.

STUDENT AFFINITY GROUPS

Recognizing a need for affinity spaces after students enter independent schools, Prep launched year-round affinity groups to create supportive places for students to gather based on shared identities. With input from students and led by trained staff facilitators, affinity groups included LGBTQIA+, Black and African Heritage, Latinx Heritage, Asian and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage, South Asian Heritage, and Multiracial Heritage groups. Students connected across contingents from both day and boarding schools, discussed current events, and reflected on their identities and relationships with their communities. Prep alum Xiomara Hall (P9 I), a trainer with the Center for Racial Justice in Education, conducted training sessions for all staff facilitators.

FINANCIAL LITERACY AND LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS

In a rapidly changing world with continued wealth disparities, Prep for Prep offered year-round opportunities for our community to learn about personal finance and plan for their futures.

• Academic Programs and Counseling staff met with individual families from grades 6–12 to discuss financial concerns, introduce budgeting tools, and navigate independent school financial aid processes in English and Spanish.

• With input from students and families, the Leadership Development, Professional Advancement, and Development, Professional Advancement, andUndergraduate Affairs teams offered financial literacy panels and workshops to high school and college students. They covered topics such as personal credit, payroll taxes, and college financial aid. Partnerships with Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and several universities created a diverse range of learning opportunities.

VIRTUAL LILAC BALL

With safety and inclusivity in mind, our first-ever virtual Lilac Ball celebrated the high school classes of 2020 and 2021 in a dynamic online program. Students contributed artwork, music, and speeches, and families, alumni, and supporters from all over the world joined the event free of charge. With thanks to Corporate Honoree JPMorgan Chase & Co., we raised over $3 million for Prep’s programs and garnered over 3,000 views on YouTube to date.