Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) this year at Palmer Trinity
The first semester saw us deep in the process of redesigning our Mosaic program (PTS’s DEI curriculum) so that it offers more differentiated lessons across the various grade levels, more coherent arcs that build on previous learning, and more space for authentic student expression. Having finalized the 6th and 9th-grade lessons last year, we’ll be finished with the 7th and 10th-grade lessons by year’s end. We’ll then focus on developing the 8th and 11th-grade lessons next year, before developing a high school-to-college DEI curriculum for seniors the year after that. We also redesigned our Mosaic training, so that we might better support the over 70 students who partner with us in doing this work.
Even though this work is ongoing, students continue to sit for Mosaic lessons. The first semester lessons were as follows:
- Mosaic 1: Intro & Identity
- Mosaic 2: The Immigrant Experience
- Mosaic 3: Race & Identity
Taking six students to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in December was another major undertaking. While Palmer Trinity School has been sending full delegations of students to this NAIS-sponsored conference for over 20 years, this was the first time students have been able to attend in person since COVID. The experience was powerful for our attendees and set us up for some of our school’s upcoming DEI events (see below).
More recently, we held our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation in January, which saw PTS alumnus and federal public defender Jean-Pierre Michael Gilbert address the school on his own efforts to promote social justice, and Black History Month Convocation sponsored by the Black Student Union which focused on celebrating the African American experience through the arts.
The coming months will see the following events:
- Mosaic 4: SDLC Speeches and Batá Drumming Presentations (February 14 and 15): A slightly different format from our usual lessons, this Mosaic will feature a diverse group of students presenting on their experiences at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference one day, and a cultural demonstration by Afro Cuban drummers the next.
- Mosaic 5: LGBTQIA+ Awareness (March 27 and 28): This Mosaic will emphasize the importance of treating members of the LGBTQIA+ community with dignity and respect, and will focus on anti-bullying strategies.
- Convocation: Pride Celebration (March 30): This convocation will drive home the importance of the previous Mosaic with testimony from our LGBTQIA+ community.
- Mosaic 6: Socioeconomic Status and Equity (April 17 and 18): This Mosaic will aim to cultivate empathy for and understanding of those who struggle socioeconomically.
- Mosaic 7: Religious Inclusion (May 2 and 3): This set of lessons is designed to combat antisemitism, islamophobia, and other forms of religious intolerance.
As we wind down the year, we’ll begin preparations for the next. For that reason, we encourage students and parents interested in starting initiatives, exploring opportunities, expressing concerns, or otherwise engaging in DEI matters to reach out to us at: deiteam@palmertrinity.org.
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Mailing Address: 7900 SW 176th Street, Miami, FL 33157
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