Students Attend Social Justice Conferences

On Saturday, April 11, 25 Friends Seminary students traveled to two social justice leadership conferences for young men hosted by Fieldston and Riverdale. Spanning grades 6-12, the Friends cohort was chaperoned by teachers Cynthia Chalker, Jason Craige Harris, Craig Saslow, Stefan Stawnychy, and Hassan Wilson, and parent Steven Gil. The students separated into two affinity groups, white or person of color, based on the identity they felt described their own. Eleven young white men attended the Fieldston conference, “(Re)defining Power: Exploring the White Male Voice in Diversity Work,” while fourteen young men of color attended the Riverdale conference, “iMatter: My Words, My Actions, My Life.” Bringing together hundreds of students from across New York City, both conferences focused on the unique needs and experiences of its identity group, aiming to cultivate a new generation of mindful and informed social justice leaders.

A few days ago, the Friends attendees gathered to reflect on their conference experiences and to discuss identity, leadership, and social justice. The conversation was both vibrant and vulnerable. Students shared honestly about the challenges of developing a truly diverse community in which all voices are equally valued and differences celebrated. They also described returning to Friends with renewed hope that bringing about the world that ought to be is possible. They felt energized and empowered, enlivened by their recommitment to do what they can, everyday, at school and at home, to create more inclusive communities. One student remarked, “Before attending the conference, I thought that the way things were, were the way they would always be, but, after attending, I thought things could change.”