THEBUZZ
NEWS FROM THE HIVE
Building Trust, One Evolution at a Time
Morning Convocation on November 9 kicked off the next chapter in Building Bridges, an initiative involving St. Benedict’s Prep, the New Jersey State Police and Victory Road Leadership Development Group that seeks to build trust and understanding between communities of color and law enforcement. The pilot program began in July when a group of Gray Bees and state troopers completed a 30hour WILDE (Wilderness Inspired Leadership Develop Expedition) in Sandyston, N.J. Now, with seed money from New York-headquartered law firm Davis Polk and the Other Fellow Foundation in Summit, N.J., an immersive challenge called BEAST brought kids and state troopers
THE SPENCER VESPOLE ’09 MEMORIAL CUP The water polo team held its first Spencer Vespole ’09 Memorial Cup on September 11. The competition — a round robin event involving St. Benedict’s Prep, Pingry and Germantown Academy — celebrated the life and legacy of Mr. Vespole, who succumbed to cancer in 2019. An All-American water polo player at Bowdoin College, “Spence” joined the St. Benedict’s Prep faculty full-time in 2013 and was a beloved teacher, mentor, alumnus and coach.
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St. Benedict’s Prep Magazine • Fall 2021
together again for a day of team training at 520 MLK Boulevard. In this latest evolution, 14 state troopers were paired with students from the Girls and Boys Prep Divisions for a series of mental and physical challenges designed to foster communication and connection. BEAST was facilitated and led by Victory Road; its acronym represents the goals of the evolution: Build relationships, Educate and create Awareness, and accelerate Synergy and Trust. Since BEAST took place on the Property, state troopers partook in Convocation in full dress uniform, and members of the St. Benedict’s community witnessed training contests like the water challenge that took place in the HAB pool and Kim’s Game, a memory exercise practiced by the military and intelligence agencies. By the end of the day, more Gray Bees expressed interest in participating in the second BEAST challenge that took place on December 7. “In this time of division, Building Bridges offers a sign of unity, something everyone in the country needs to see right now,” said Headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy, O.S.B. ’63. “Communities that historically have been far apart, can come together to connect and learn from one another.” The BEAST evolution concluded with a debrief involving all participants. The long-term goal is to develop Building Bridges into a national model that can be replicated locally, regionally and nationally. Davis Polk is partnering with us as part of its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
