Erica
Moore, director of Diversity at Mary Institute and Saint Louis
Country Day School (MICDS), has been around schools long enough to
know that middle school students sometimes do not like talking
about difference and understanding aspects of their identity. To
meet that challenge, she is leading the effort to plan the school’s
first-ever Middle School Diversity Leadership Conference set for
Thursday, November 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at
MICDS.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”> “The conference will allow for students from various schools and backgrounds to come together to talk about what makes us alike, different and wonderful,” Moore explains. “It takes a special effort to create opportunities for dialogue and understanding, to empower them to feel good about who they are and stand up for others.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”> The conference is open to 7th and 8th grade students from throughout the St. Louis metro area. Each participating school is being asked to send a delegation of 5 to 15 students, Moore explained, with a goal of approximately 200 total participants in the conference.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”> “The emphasis is also on leadership,” Moore continued. “Two or three 8th grade students from each school will serve as facilitators during the conference. They will be trained prior to the event, and then asked to help lead the charge in the diversity work at their own schools when they return.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”> The conference will consist of an opening session, an interactive theatre presentation and discussion, workshops, small group discussions, school group discussions and planning, open mic reporting and a closing session. There will also be sufficient time set aside for the students from various schools to get to know one another.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”> “After the conference, the students will return to their schools to use what they have learned, but not without support,” explains Moore. “Faculty members attending with their students will have their own workshop to discuss what the students are experiencing, but most importantly how they can support the student work when they return to their schools.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”> For more information about the conference, or to coordinate your school’s participation, contact Erica Moore at 314-995-7360 or emoore@micds.org.
