UNITY Launches 2017-18 Year
UNITY, Hackley's Upper School diversity club, which seeks to create an inclusive, safe space in which to learn, celebrate culture, lean into discomfort, and bring awareness to our community, hosted its first event of the year on 9/28. A large, enthusiastic group of students and faculty came together to begin exploring this year's theme: Empathy.
The event was planned and led by student leaders with the support of advisors Willie Teacher and Amanda Esteves-Kraus. Beginning with a raucous "Rock/Paper/Scissors" competition that systematically paired the competition down to two finalists cheered on by everyone else (Final Round: Teacher v. Maisonet. Maisonet emerged triumphant!). Then, all formed a "musical chairs" circle in which all who share a common trait (all who have an older sister, for example, or everyone who likes dogs) had to scramble for a new seat. This brought out the survivor instinct in all -- amidst much laughter.
Each participant then colored a gingerbread person-shaped form to show the relative importance of the following traits in their lives: gender, race, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, and ability, and then provided a narrative to fellow participants explaining their choices.
For one student, "ethnicity" may be a huge area of focus in their life, while for another, religion is an important defining factor. One thinks a lot about gender, while for another, socio-economic difference is a leading question. For each, the narrative provided insight both into central priorities as well as points of concern and anxiety, and the sharing invited all to see the world through each other's perspectives. For example, with participants ranging in age from teens to mid-50s, concerns and priorities ranged from "I'm always told I'm not old enough" to "Age becomes more prominent in my thinking as my memory, eyesight and physical mobility diminish."
This sharing led, then, quite naturally, to a broader conversation about empathy. What does it mean to have empathy? How does it differ from sympathy? Is it possible to build empathy with someone completely different from you, particularly if you disagree? One participant noted that "sympathy" is a way of distancing yourself from others, while empathy requires you to find that other person's humanity -- even if you don't share the same points of view. Having seen the "other" as "human," you can never unsee them again.
Student leaders ended the session by inviting all participants to share how they felt upon arriving at this meeting, and what feeling they would carry out with them. "I came tonight feeling nervous; I am leaving feeling connected." "I came tonight feeling lonely; I leave feeling happy." "I came tonight feeling curious; I will leave feeling proud." Together, participating students and teachers found a shared space in which to see each other and feel connected: United, we help one another.
Our grateful thanks for the efforts of all the student and faculty leaders and all who participated. Next time -- bring a friend!
Each participant then colored a gingerbread person-shaped form to show the relative importance of the following traits in their lives: gender, race, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, and ability, and then provided a narrative to fellow participants explaining their choices.
For one student, "ethnicity" may be a huge area of focus in their life, while for another, religion is an important defining factor. One thinks a lot about gender, while for another, socio-economic difference is a leading question. For each, the narrative provided insight both into central priorities as well as points of concern and anxiety, and the sharing invited all to see the world through each other's perspectives. For example, with participants ranging in age from teens to mid-50s, concerns and priorities ranged from "I'm always told I'm not old enough" to "Age becomes more prominent in my thinking as my memory, eyesight and physical mobility diminish."
This sharing led, then, quite naturally, to a broader conversation about empathy. What does it mean to have empathy? How does it differ from sympathy? Is it possible to build empathy with someone completely different from you, particularly if you disagree? One participant noted that "sympathy" is a way of distancing yourself from others, while empathy requires you to find that other person's humanity -- even if you don't share the same points of view. Having seen the "other" as "human," you can never unsee them again.
Student leaders ended the session by inviting all participants to share how they felt upon arriving at this meeting, and what feeling they would carry out with them. "I came tonight feeling nervous; I am leaving feeling connected." "I came tonight feeling lonely; I leave feeling happy." "I came tonight feeling curious; I will leave feeling proud." Together, participating students and teachers found a shared space in which to see each other and feel connected: United, we help one another.
Our grateful thanks for the efforts of all the student and faculty leaders and all who participated. Next time -- bring a friend!
Hackley School
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