Student Leaders Drive DEI forward at SLIDE

Five Sierra Canyon Upper School students participated in the Student Leaders for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (SLIDE) conference this summer.

The SLIDE conference, hosted by Harvard-Westlake School, offers students in Grades 9-12 an opportunity to engage deeply in topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. The program invites students to participate in workshops, master classes, and lectures to develop leadership skills and foster meaningful conversations about social issues held across the Harvard-Westlake and UCLA campuses.

After a thorough application process, Danny M. '26, Troi F. '26, Lyric W. '26, Sarah S. '27, and Naz E. '25 were selected to represent Sierra Canyon. Each student submitted a video detailing their personal experiences and contributions to the School's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, showcasing their commitment and enthusiasm for these important topics.

Throughout the conference, these students collaborated with peers from other independent schools on DEI projects. Lyric emphasized the importance of learning to be a leader within diverse groups, especially those outside her usual social circle. This experience, she explained, has translated into other areas of her life, such as on the tennis team and in the classroom. "By doing your job as a student, doing your work, participating actively, modeling focus and engagement, you lead by example." 

Highlights also included Danny's involvement in creating a Jeopardy game focused on racial and social justice issues and Sarah and Naz's participation in debates about current DEI issues and popular culture. Reflecting on the experience, Troi shared, "My biggest takeaway was diversifying my knowledge of other students' experiences and outlooks on life, giving me a different perspective on real-world situations."

Their participation in the SLIDE program has equipped them with valuable leadership, communication, and collaboration skills that will have an undeniably positive impact at Sierra Canyon and beyond.

#SCUpperSchool #SCDEI