24 • THE GRYPHON Fall/Winter 2021
IDEA COMMITTEE
Meaningful Changes for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programming Over the past four years, the Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion has embarked on a journey to recognize and enhance the core values of our school’s programming. Community involvement in this process has been key, with CSW’s Diversity Committee playing an important role in shaping community objectives. Comprised of elected students, faculty, and staff, the Diversity Committee strives to make CSW an open and safe community that encourages all voices to be heard in a respectful manner, promoting the enrichment of our school culture through discussions, events, and wide-ranging curricula. As a committee, the group seeks to foster a campus that provides a sense of inclusiveness that reflects the broad range of ages, races, genders, ethnicities, cultures, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations, social and economic classes, and physical and learning differences in our community. There are two representatives from each class and meetings are open to all. The Committee recently examined the goals and accomplishments of the work they have done and challenged themselves to strengthen and grow the work for the future, establishing the following priorities: 1. Strengthening leadership 2. Empowering committee members 3. Rebranding the committee and programs 4. Creating a legacy
A New IDEA This past spring, members of the Committee collectively agreed the time had come to re-examine their name. For weeks, committee members reviewed their goals and brainstormed names that they felt better encompassed the core tenets of their work. They arrived at the IDEA Committee — Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action. The key word is “Action.” Through guest speakers, workshops, all-school programming, curriculum development, etc., IDEA Committee will continue to bring topics to the community that provide a space for learning, personal growth, and common language, with a specific focus on anti-racist work.
Identity Exploration The Committee also rebranded the event formerly known as “Diversity Day,” a full day of workshops exploring a variety of topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ranging from cultural traditions and stereotypes to gender, class, and body image. This important day on CSW’s annual calendar will now be known as, “Identity Exploration Day,” a name that more aptly encompasses the mission for the day, which calls on community members to share aspects of their identities, in doing so developing a deeper understanding of themselves and those around them.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Toni Singleton School Nurse I see joining this committee as an extension of my personal, professional and global commitment to achieving a more just, equitable, kind, and humane world. I believe every school has a culture and that school culture lives organically in a space that can have the capacity to influence both local and global communities with the clear expression of its ideas and ideals. I take immense pleasure in bearing witness to and participating in the exploring, toiling, and forming of individual and ultimately, organizational, conscious awareness. The work that is achieved in this committee can be foundational in supporting social justice at CSW by exemplifying mutual respect and dignity for all of the members of our community. It is light. It is beauty. It is love.
Ella Harrington ’21 I chose to join the IDEA Committee because I care deeply about helping CSW to be an equitable and informed community. I feel that as a white person, it is my responsibility to put in the personal and actionable work towards dismantling white supremacy. I am excited to learn, listen, and work with my CSW peers and faculty. In a community that prides itself on its dedication to social justice, I believe it is imperative that our actions match our intentions. IDEA Committee is essential to this goal because it is creating a framework for work to be done by implementing policy, projects, and personal support in pursuit of our shared goals.
Arissa Emile ’22 I find it important to make sure everyone’s voices are heard and understood. As a Black woman at a predominantly white institution, I know how it feels to not have your voice heard. I think it is very important for everyone to feel heard and comfortable. IDEA Committee is the place to achieve that. The work IDEA Committee does is important because the Committee works to make sure that everyone feels included and understood in the CSW community and to bring awareness to important topics
James Foleno ’24 I chose to join IDEA Committee because I want to be an advocate for social justice. Because I am a white man, it is important for me to use my privilege to fight oppression. I want to be part of a younger generation that supports the values of the IDEA Committee. Even though CSW is a progressive school, we have lots of room for growth. I would like to be a part of positive change. The IDEA Committee carries forth the message of social justice throughout CSW. It is important to educate the CSW community around oppression and its impacts. IDEA Committee also gives a voice to those who have been historically silenced. As a school, we must stand on the side of justice.
