Creating a discussion and understanding others’ point of view is vital to any social movement. The Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) unites students of multicultural backgrounds to discuss pressing social and political issues. Hewitt annually sends six students to the conference, which took place in Atlanta, GA this year.
Through conversations with other students from all over the nation to guest speakers such as Congressman John Lewis, students who attended the conference discovered different perspectives.
“The environment was very accepting and filled with people who were open to hearing different opinions,” explained Reayana K. ‘19. “I saw the most peaceful and respectful disagreements of my life while I was at SDLC.”
Racial tensions have been high given this past presidential election, leaving minorities feeling vulnerable. But SDLC strives to unite students of all different backgrounds, regardless of privilege, in order to show support for those at a disadvantage.
Credit: Hewitt School Twitter
Despite over a month having passed since it was announced that Donald Trump is the president-elect, the topic of his presidency is still sensitive. Naomi P. ‘18 said, “We mainly just opened up about how we felt about the president-elect and what the next four years may look like for us, our families and the different situations we all come from.”
Hewitt students have the benefit of being in a community with platforms to discuss social issues. For those who attended the SDLC, the shift between the typical small Hewitt discussions to a wider and much more diverse environment was a major highlight. The discussions were more in depth, given the three days devoted to speakers and activities regarding social issues.
“It’s extremely draining, emotionally, mentally, and physically, but it’s worth it if you are passionate about social issues and bettering our societies, from a small scale such as Hewitt to a statewide impact,” Reyana K. ‘19 said.
Hewitt encourages students to create and engage in conversations surrounding diversity. Groups such as ACTION, Spectrum, and the Young Women of Color Alliance spark conversations about prevalent issues. Naomi and Eryn G. ‘18 spoke to the class of 2018 about their experience at SDLC to further encourage those who are not a part of those clubs. They spoke of the welcoming environment SDLC had and urged their peers to share interest and compassion for their cause.
Naomi said, “Something I think that Eryn and I can agree on is that having and allies within the majority is super important in whatever you are fighting for. So we shared our stories in hopes of educating the grade on some of the issues we face as women of color in the Hewitt community.”