Last week, Sierra Canyon sent nine individuals to attend the Student Diversity Leadership (SDLC) and People of Color Conferences (POCC) in St. Louis, Missouri.
Upper School students Emma B. '26, Mallika V. '25, Onthatile D. '24, Alishba A. '24, Ethan G. '25, and Tony L. '25 represented Sierra Canyon at the SDLC, while faculty members Mr. Glazé, Ms. Ahring, and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Ms. Fahmy participated in the POCC. Building on Sierra Canyon's commitment to diversity and inclusion, the representation of students and active engagement of faculty and administrators underscores the School's dedication to fostering cultural awareness. These conferences aim to cultivate faculty and administrators' skills while empowering students with capacities necessary for magnanimity and leadership, namely, the abilities to listen and understand actively, to seek empathy in communication, to speak from one's experience confidently and meaningfully, and to collaborate effectively with others from diverse backgrounds. Ethan enthusiastically recalled the conference, "It is all about celebrating uniqueness and learning from different perspectives."
Attendees explored the multifaceted categories of ethnicity, geographic region, family status, religious and faith traditions, and adoption as examples of identities. Some students gathered in affinity groups, forming a supportive environment comprising individuals with a common ethnicity. Emma said, "We shared stories of growing up as Asian Americans, our parents, the expectations placed upon us, beauty, and Asian comfort food. I felt very validated." The student family groups comprised individuals of multiple ethnicities, cultures, and faith traditions.
Reflecting on the conference, Upper School History Teacher Mr. Glazé emphasized the extraordinary opportunities and communities forged at SDLC/POCC, describing how transformative the experiences are for the students. As we continue Learning forward, the next SDLC/POCC awaits in Denver, Colorado, from December 4-7, 2024. For those interested in attending next year, Ms. Fahmy will open the application process in the fall of 2024.
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