Poly's Student Leaders in Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity
Student Leaders in Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity is Poly's student group focused on DEI initiatives on campus. Aleena, the junior class representative on the alumni board, caught up with faculty advisors Ye Dam Alicea, Blake Spraggins, Kyanh Tonnu, and Aquita Winslow to discuss SLIDE's progress and goals for the year.
Aleena: When was SLIDE created? Why did Poly decide to create SLIDE?
Faculty: SLIDE was created in the spring of 2020. The US Director urged its creation after hearing feedback from a student (who now sits on the committee) after she had attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference. Since the idea had already been discussed among some faculty members and there was a solid structure in place to support the students (the US DEI team), Poly decided to proceed.
Aleena: Who does SLIDE consist of?
Faculty: SLIDE is made up of twenty 10-12 grade students who are committed to bettering Poly’s environment around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The four members of the US DEI Committee currently act as the group’s sponsors.
Aleena: What are your major goals for the year?
Faculty: This year, we have two broad goals. About half of the students are working in student outreach efforts—getting students talking about issues of DEI, promoting events around DEI, and helping facilitate school-sponsored events concerning DEI. A second half of the group is concentrating on the ways in which DEI topics are (or are not) apparent in the US curriculum. An overarching goal for the year is to define the group’s scope and future work.
Aleena: Any upcoming events on the horizon that you can share about?
Faculty: Later in the year, we hope that SLIDE will have the opportunity to play a leadership role in some student programming, perhaps hosting an assembly or some other forum for discussion.
Aleena: Other than SLIDE, what does DEI work look like at Poly? What is SLIDE doing to change the landscape of the school?
Faculty: SLIDE’s goal is to improve communication between student DEI groups, both across student groups and with adults on campus. Another important goal is to increase overall campus attention and awareness around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and to elevate the conversation around these topics to ensure that the community engages in meaningful, productive dialogue around these important issues.
Aleena: When was SLIDE created? Why did Poly decide to create SLIDE?
Faculty: SLIDE was created in the spring of 2020. The US Director urged its creation after hearing feedback from a student (who now sits on the committee) after she had attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference. Since the idea had already been discussed among some faculty members and there was a solid structure in place to support the students (the US DEI team), Poly decided to proceed.
Aleena: Who does SLIDE consist of?
Faculty: SLIDE is made up of twenty 10-12 grade students who are committed to bettering Poly’s environment around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The four members of the US DEI Committee currently act as the group’s sponsors.
Aleena: What are your major goals for the year?
Faculty: This year, we have two broad goals. About half of the students are working in student outreach efforts—getting students talking about issues of DEI, promoting events around DEI, and helping facilitate school-sponsored events concerning DEI. A second half of the group is concentrating on the ways in which DEI topics are (or are not) apparent in the US curriculum. An overarching goal for the year is to define the group’s scope and future work.
Aleena: Any upcoming events on the horizon that you can share about?
Faculty: Later in the year, we hope that SLIDE will have the opportunity to play a leadership role in some student programming, perhaps hosting an assembly or some other forum for discussion.
Aleena: Other than SLIDE, what does DEI work look like at Poly? What is SLIDE doing to change the landscape of the school?
Faculty: SLIDE’s goal is to improve communication between student DEI groups, both across student groups and with adults on campus. Another important goal is to increase overall campus attention and awareness around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and to elevate the conversation around these topics to ensure that the community engages in meaningful, productive dialogue around these important issues.
Resources
Policies
©2024 Polytechnic School. All Rights Reserved