The Hun School of Princeton's MLK Leadership Summit Provides Lessons in Social Justice
Princeton, NJ (PRWEB) January 19, 2015 -- Thirty-five students at The Hun School of Princeton engaged in a weekend-long leadership summit January 16 – 18th exploring social justice, personal identity, and group dynamics. Through a series of activities and discussions, students considered power and privilege in society, and how to become effective allies for social equality and justice.
Dr. King believed that every individual holds equal value and space in a community. By exploring personal identity and the identities of their peers, students modeled the lessons of Martin Luther King, Jr. as they considered conflict civility, resolution through dialogue, and living with moral courage. Otis Douce, director of cultural competency at The Hun School, led the summit. He was assisted by five faculty members, each trained to facilitate – Laura Bishop, Erika dos Santos, Steve Fabian, Dara Martin, and Meghan Poller.
“This is an intensive program that is designed to be, at times, intentionally provocative. We are teaching our students the importance of standing up for something in which they believe and how to affect others to join them. That is what Dr. King so famously did in his life, and those lessons are just as important today, as they were in the 1960s,” said Mr. Douce.
Students were placed into smaller Core Groups where they worked with faculty facilitators to discuss topics such as social identifiers and personal identity, the power of media, and wealth distribution.
“I learned about systemic oppression and how earlier policies still have an impact on minority groups today,” said senior Madeline Carlson. “By sharing stories and experiences with each other in an environment of acceptance, we can see our community through a different lens and have a better understanding of the struggles that others face.”
The students also came together as a large group throughout the weekend to further discuss various topics. They participated in activities designed to help them become more comfortable dealing with conflict.
“Now that I understand the emotional impact of injustice, I will no longer be a bystander,” said freshman Mason Freeman. “I feel more equipped to take action.”
About The Hun School of Princeton:
The Hun School of Princeton is a co-educational, private day and boarding school in Princeton, New Jersey. Individual attention and strong student-faculty relationships are the hallmarks of the School. On the 45-acre campus between Philadelphia and New York City, student-centered, hands-on learning prepare students for the global community in which they will live and work. The Hun School is comprised of 630 students in its Middle School, Upper School, and Postgraduate Program. The Hun School is home to students from twenty-three countries and eighteen states.
Meghan Poller, The Hun School of Princeton, http://www.hunschool.org, +1 6096130340, [email protected]
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