Dr. Derrick Gay Leads Workshops in Third Year of Partnership

This is the third year of Saint David's partnership with Dr. Derrick Gay, an internationally recognized consultant on issues of global citizenship, diversity and inclusion. Dr. Gay has been guiding us in our school's initiative to cultivate cultural competency and to be an increasingly inclusive community.

Dr. Gay's work with us this year began a couple of weeks ago, when he led a workshop for our parent community. These past two days, he visited classes throughout the Lower and Upper School focusing on cultivating friendship, empathy, kindness, and moral courage; and on the danger of stereotyping. With our youngest boys, he shared the picture book "Pink is for Boys," which debunks stereotypical thinking around gender.

Dr. Gay also led a workshop yesterday with the faculty and staff on Cultivating Moral Courage in Boys. He led us in discussions about stereotypes, the ways students often use jokes to perpetuate them, and the how impact of one's action is more important than intent, noting that "intent doesn't sanitize the impact of your words."

These have been fruitful sessions for all--parents, boys, faculty and staff. We look forward to Dr. Gay's returning in January to build on our work thus far. Accepting and appreciating differences, and tapping into our moral courage in challenging situations are two important avenues toward fulfilling our mission's call "that they be good men."

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