For the first time since 2019, Menlo brought both faculty and students to Denver, Colo. through Dec. 3-7, for two conferences held by the National Association of Independent Schools: the People of Color Conference and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference.
The programs have been running for 30 years, and in the early 2010s, a lottery system was included to ensure fairness in attendance for the limited spots. Until this year, Menlo hadn’t been selected to attend with students since 2019. Director of Student Belonging Carmen Borbón said that the drought of wins could be attributed to how many schools in the area apply. “Every year that we haven’t been called, SHP has been called,” Borbón said.
For the students that attended this year, they attended a five day program with learning and connecting experiences which included staying in “family” groups — groups of diverse students in every aspect from different schools — to have daily discussions and having affinity group meetings. The program also recruited experts on the topics of diversity and inclusion to give unique lectures.
Borbón commends the program’s efficacy in reaching otherwise isolated students at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). “It makes kids feel like they have a community, where at their schools they don’t,” she said.
In the past, Borbón has seen students feel empowered by the conference and find new communities that helped their experience at Menlo. She pointed out an example of one alum who felt partially isolated, being one of the only Latina students in her grade, and was thinking about transferring out of Menlo. However, her mindset transformed at the event. “[The conference] changed her perspective,” Borbón said. “I saw her gain more confidence and be able to speak up for herself at Menlo when facing adversity.”
For selected attendants, like junior Sulia Gayle, one of the reasons to sign up was being able to discuss and connect with people of color who attend other independent schools. “Coming from a PWI, I thought it would be a validating and empowering experience that would build community for me,” Gayle said.
In addition to discussing with others, Gayle also looked forward to gaining more skills and confidence to address diversity issues in her own life. “I hope to walk away knowing how to better navigate incidents relating to diversity [like racial microaggressions] within my own community,” she said.
Additionally, a representative of the conference, Dr. Rodney Glasgow, was the main speaker at Menlo’s first African American Student Retreat on Nov. 21. Through Borbón, Glasgow was hired to give a full school lesson on Menlo’s campus. He helped participants learn new ways to support each other within the school community and build skills and language to respond to any identity-based incidents. The day ended with a presentation to Than Healy and other administrators on the experience of Black students and faculty at Menlo.
