Elaine Loft, Staff Writer
The Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island was the site of the annual high school Students of Color Conference, sponsored by the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE). Twelve Derryfield students, accompanied by Anela Kruščica, Director of Equity and Belonging, and Laurie Byron, Dean of Faculty, attended the April 6 event.
The full-day program opened with an introductory lunch, followed by a keynote address by Andre Bradford (aka S.C.). Bradford is an award-winning slam poet and author, whose mission is “to create more empathetic communities and cultures using poetry, data, and story.” The participants then headed to workshops. With over thirty offerings taking place over nearly four hours there was a plethora of choices, including “Unpacking Popular Culture and Images of East Asians,” “Affirming Identity and Experience Through Story Exchange,” and “Exploring the Intersectionality of Neurodiversity and Communities of Color.”
After a second keynote address by Congressman Gabe Amo, there was a performance by the Wheeler School Fusion Dance Company. Dinner was followed by meetings of the 13 different affinity groups. The finale and highlight of the event was a dance, where the students from 39 participating schools came together in joyful celebration.
Derryfield senior Zora Brady said of her experience, “Being with a community of students with similar experiences was so impactful and interesting–I really appreciated the opportunity to attend this conference.”
