Middle school students to tackle issues of racial equity in upcoming workshop

Press release from Evergreen Community Charter School: 

Standing against racism starts with conversation, and those conversations should start early in childhood, said Dr. Susan Mertz, Executive Director of Evergreen Community Charter School.

“Middle school students are developing personal values and their intellectual development is allowing them to grapple with complex concepts. This is the age when we can significantly empower them to make their communities more equitable, inclusive, and just,” Mertz said.

On Saturday, September 28, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Evergreen will partner with Rainbow Community School to host My Place in Race, an experiential racial equity workshop for middle school students. Facilitated by Alexandria Ravenel, co-chair of Building Bridges of Asheville, the free workshop seeks to help 7th and 8th grade students participate in meaningful and intentional dialogue about race. Lunch, snacks, and transportation will be provided.

Bridging the topic of race can be challenging for adults, much less preteens. Nonetheless, both Evergreen and Rainbow prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom and in school leadership. Rainbow, for example, allocates a portion of funds raised through the Annual Campaign to scholarships and Evergreen recently adopted an economically weighted lottery.

“We recognize that it’s not enough to simply have a diverse pool of students and families,” said Danae Aicher, Equity Director at Rainbow Community School. “An equitable and inclusive community is a must, or we can’t maintain diversity as anything more than window dressing.”

WHAT: My Place in Race, a racial equity workshop for 7th and 8th graders

WHEN: September 28, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Evergreen Community Charter School, 50 Bell Road, Asheville

To apply to participate, please complete this form by September 10. All 7th and 8th grade students are welcome to apply.

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One thought on “Middle school students to tackle issues of racial equity in upcoming workshop

  1. Enlightened Enigma

    If you people would stop pushing this agenda, things would work out favorably with all the equity and inclusion now in place, right?

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