In September Catlin Gabel's leadership made a clear and decisive commitment to becoming an anti-racist school.  In this fifth episode focusing on anti-racism Head of School Tim Bazemore, Director of Inclusion and Outreach Jasmine Love, and Head of Upper School Aline Garcia-Rubio give a wide-ranging perspective of what that means at an institutional level.  With Rob and Matt, they explore the history of privilege at independent schools, what changes have occurred over the past decades, how the school is currently engaged in anti-racist work and what the vision for the school is as we move forward.  At a time when all institutions are grappling with issues of race, diversity, inclusion, and equity this episode gives listeners a chance to understand the kind of conversations and thinking that is happening at a high level at Catlin Gabel School.

In this moment of collective reckoning since the death of George Floyd, Catlin Gabel, like many educational institutions, has had to examine the ways in which racism exists within our school. Black students, families, employees, and other People of Color, made clear that the school must do a better job of fostering a truly inclusive and welcoming culture of belonging for everyone. In addition to the steps being taken by the school, which were recently shared by Head of School Tim Bazemore and Board Chair Indira Nallakrishnan, seven Upper School students came together over the summer to ensure their voices were heard. Today, this group has grown to forty students and are now known as the Antiracism Collective, whose mission is to invite the school’s community to “analyze their privilege, focus attention on antiracism, and understand the experiences of BIPOC on campus.” In this episode of Elevate, Rob sits down for a wide ranging conversation with ARC's leadership team to hear about their personal experiences and goals for their work together: (All of the students are seniors, except one) Anuska Gupta, Emma Lindner, Neha Myneni, Catie Macauley, Nayan Murthy (junior), Divine Niyungeko, and Patina Todd.  

Article about ARC in CatlinSpeak:  https://www.catlinspeak.com/speak/introducing-the-cgs-anti-racist-collective

ARC Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/cgsantiracistco

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgsantiracistcollective/

The Office of Inclusion and Outreach at Catlin Gabel plays a pivotal role in helping the community think about and expand the culture of the school.  In her new full-time role as the Assistant Director of Inclusion and Outreach Erica Babino brings a deep passion for the work of diversity, inclusion, and conflict management.  Rob and Matt sit down with Erica and hear about how she is considering recruitment and retention of people of color at the school, the work she is doing with students, her past legislative actions on adoption, the children’s books she has published, and how finding her birth parents completely altered her life.  Enjoy this third episode of Elevate’s third season.

A link to Erica's book:  https://www.amazon.com/Rolling-into-Peace-Speaking-Green/dp/0999027107

Most people know Matt Woodard as a go-to man when dealing with all manner of digital and audio issues.  But as Matt moves into his new role as Media Arts teacher in the Upper School Rob wanted to take the opportunity to chat with him so everyone has a chance to see some of the other great talents and perspectives he has to share with our community.  From his passion for music and art, to his transition from IT staff to teaching faculty,  to his experience of being a Black man at Catlin Gabel and the role and responsibility he sees an art teacher has to support the school's goal of becoming an anti-racist institution, this conversation allows us to get a deeper understanding of this multitalented educator.   

In the middle of the literal firestorm that is September 2020, we are all looking for ways to feel hope and ways to feel connected to others and our world. In this first episode of Elevate's third season, Rob van Nood and his new co-host Matt Woodard sit down with second-grade teacher and community activist Marcelle Donehower to explore how her experience in the Black Lives Matter movement has allowed her to grow, develop her voice and make powerful connections. Her commitment to social justice and anti-racism through action can give us all hope.

Link to Marcelle's Street Roots article:  https://www.streetroots.org/news/2020/09/02/opinion-call-front-lines-listen-us