CHARGED AND HOPEFUL

To end the conference and our weekend, the student leaders had their opportunity to display their skills. They led us in conversation and shared their realizations and reflections. Wendell Pierce helped to round out our time together by delivering a wonderful speech and, yes, more inspiration. But he also reminded us of our obligation to each other and our world. 

 “The battles they fought were to protect their lives and those of their children; us. They had faith that the right to vote was stronger than the sword and many died for that belief. We must never forget that there is blood on that ballot box. There is blood on that Ballot box. Only a few hours’ drive from here Medgar Evers died so we can vote. I cried for him. Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner died so we can vote. I cried for them. In the muddy waters of the Mississippi that run behind these doors, many died so that we can vote. And it was that belief that changed the world a few weeks ago. Hands that once picked cotton that now pick a president. They died so that we can vote.”   

“We are the beneficiaries of the efforts of many, many great men and women before us. We swim in their wake, we walk the paths they cleared, we enter doors they opened, we reaped the good they sowed…..but for this generation these benefit come with a great responsibility.”

The 2008 POCC conference was a great conference that raised challenging questions and sent us forth with hope, pride, and some new tools to keep working to create change. There is no doubt that we have much work to do. In addition to our charge, this conference, by its mere location in space and time, allowed us to celebrate the great achievements of our time. The weekend was a series of reunions and tear-jerking, heartrending inspirational moments. We have been recharged.                                         

This morning, Sir Sidney Poitier started me on what I would call the "inspiration train". I remember “To Sir With Love” and I know that my desire to reach my students over the years in Independent school was influenced by his performance in that movie. He has been an amazing example in so many ways and today he added to that aura. I know the snapshots of his life resonated with many of us. His presence and regal grace coupled with his gift of oratory gave me more than I expected.  Mr. Poitier gave me snapshots that made me see him with less veneer and yet even as I know his warts/foibles I am still mesmerized; maybe even more so.  Actually, I think he gives us courage as “unknowns” to keep doing what we do.  Here are three statements that kept me thinking well into the day.

• “A good and well-rounded education should be the birthright of every child’
• “When surface appearances are all we see it will soon become all we know.
• "In the final analysis it doesn’t matter how many times you have been knocked down. It matters what we do with our time after we get up.”

 When the president of NAIS uses his remarks to celebrate the election of Barack Obama; highlighting its significance to our schools, this country and the world, you get goose bumps. Pat Bassett’s talked about a dream deferred using Langston Hughes' poem, dreams inferred using Dr. King’s speech, and dreams conferred using the American dream. He posits that the election of Barack Obama is evidence of the “limitless possibilities” that we can now preach about with great honesty to our children and is the example of a dream conferred. This led nicely into the ideas that were put forth by Mr. Poitier. 

This morning the seat on the "inspiration train" is feeling really comfortable for me. Many of us are walking around the conference halls with common pride and a sense that “it” is possible.  

Jean Batiste encouraged us further with great news of the numbers of attendees at the conference. There are 3,116 attendees for the POCC and SDLC; 1905 attending the POCC and 1211 attending the SDLC. The great statistic I find most heartening is that 37% of the adults are new and, (did I hear this right?) 76% of the students are new. Kudos to Jean for his inspired leadership. It is clear that his vision was at work in the selection process as he emphasized the richness of Nawlins, and the symbolism inherits in this place. 

                                       The Free Agents Brass Band led the way

The affinity group exercise was quite enjoyable.  We were not as brave as others so we did not volunteer to perform.  There was joy in sharing and loved creativity that gave way to that joy. The reflections produced by the exercise continue to inspire.

  "Sole to Soul" hard at work                                                        

Our workshop was well-attended. The real my presenters (Pascale Musto, Ara Brown, James Greenwood, and Peter Sun) shared the result of the survey they conducted.  We were able to share good information about the climate in Independent Schools for faculty of color, recruitment practices and patterns, common sentiments about the hiring faculty of color among other information/interpretations. The presentation raised great questions and allowed us and the participants to share ideas and perspectives.

The “Staying Power” crew are filming a documentary. If you are interested in sharing your perspective and stories about life in Independent Schools, you should contact any of us (randall.dunn@roeper.org; pmusto@millbrook.org; jgreenwood@nmhschool.org; peter_sunn@concordacdemy.org; abrown@williston.com)

We have arrived. The flight from Detroit to Nola allowed me time to take a quick nap and get ready for the conference by reading and plotting my rout through the conference. The line-up of featured speakers is very intriguing. I hope I have time to see most of them. I have also been drawn in by the description of the affinity group sessions and I want to see what they will be all about. 

So after a turbulent landing and an even more turbulent taxi ride to the hotel, I connected with some of the Roeper faculty and students and helped to get us all situated. There is palpable excitement in the hotel lobby and at the registration counter in the convention center. During each encounter with past attendees and friends we are all try to figure out who is here and who couldn’t make it. The attendees are listed by school and that method/document seems easier to use than previous years and will be useful in the next few days and beyond. Dinner at Mulate’s, the original Cajun restaurant, was excellent. The festive scene at dinner made it very clear that this will be a lively year at POCC. 

The plan for tomorrow is: Attend the opening keynote by Sidney Poitier, attend the affinity group sessions, participate in workshop (Staying Power: Recruiting, Retaining, and empowering Faculty of Color) see John Trudell , and attend the Midwest regional meeting.

Mimi and Nadine arrive in NOLA

A friend get us a taxi at the airport and sees us off with a smile.

The Roeper crew checks in at the hotel

Fellow attendees get things started at Mulates: the original cajun restaurant

The picture above is Aunt Lurline's dress and hat neatly hung on the back of a door shortly following uncle Felix's funeral.  As I think about New Orleans, in the aftermath of Katrina and my aunt after her husband's death, I can detect unspeakable sadness and questions about an uncertain future.  This picture frames that experience in an interesting way for me. 

I have never been to New Orleans before. I am excited to develop a personal perspective given the stories that I have heard of the physical and mental impact of hurricane Katrina on the people of that intriguing city and the subsequent involvement of the rest of this country and the world. I didn’t know New Orleans before Katrina so I have learned about pre and post Katrina NOLA from the media and others who have been down to help with the relief effort or attended Mardi Gras. I take my flight with a mix of emotion caused by the heart rending stories that unfolded, the courage that was displayed in many ways and the pain, suffering and anger felt  from what I saw and learned about the nightmarish conditions and ill-treatment of fellow human beings. It all makes me almost nervous to see NOLA for myself. So besides getting acquainted with the material for the conference and charting my course through the workshops and my own presentation (A-17: Staying Power: Recruiting, Retaining, and Empowering Faculty of Color) I await my personal visceral encounter with NOLA.

Welcome to my POCC blog.  I am going to enjoy showing off the POCC to those who could not make it to New Orleans.  I also want to show this conference off to those who have not been to a people of Color Conference. Regardless of your background, the POCC offers enormous opportunity for insight, growth, inspiration and rejuvenation. We all arrive with expectations and often leave changed.

Personally, each year I look forward to attending.  I relish the opportunity to engage in conversations about matters that are specifically pertinent to my existence as a person of color in independent schools.  There are numerous professional development opportunities that allow me to dive into topics about life and work in independent schools.  However, there are very few professional development opportunities like the POCC because it is both a professional and highly personal opportunity.  Obviously, POCC and any worthy independent school (national or regional) conference aim to inspire, engage and potentially change attendees.  So the question is why this conference becomes so personal for so many people.  Like my trip back home to Jamaica, the POCC gives me a strong sense of home.  If you are a person of color who has been in independent schools for a while (never mind having gone to an independent school), the POCC can draw out feelings similar to your high school reunion, your family reunion, an inspiring sermon/homily, a song that comes on the radio that makes your bop your head to the beat, a picture and subsequent memory that makes you smile, or comfy clothes that you can just wear everywhere you go if you were allowed. For me, the circumstance of the POCC allows for relaxed, heated, generative and productive conversations. So why is it so personal? It is because there are many African Americans. It is because there are so many different people with a common interest in equity and justice; an interest that impacts me as an educator and a human being. It is because I like that which is different. It is because I get to catch up with characters from my previous lives in independent schools. It is because the message of it and the people in it lift my spirits. 

That is my POCC disposition. So I promise that this blog will contain reflections about the speakers and the content of various workshops but you can best believe that I will be networking (hangin’ out) and attending some social functions (hangin’ out) as well. 

For even more perspectives make sure you check out my colleagues' blogs: Sandra Chapman http://blog.lrei.org/diversity/ , Christel McGuigan http://www.bishops.com/Blogs/POCC.aspx and Anthony Wittte http://www.cais.org/en/blog/594.

NOLA here we come!!!  

I lived in this simply but warm home until I was 9 years old.  My sister Debbie and I recently returned home to Jamaica for the funeral of our beloved Uncle Felix.  Uncle Felix and Aunt Lurline helped to raise us while my mom was sponsored as a domestic worker by a family in America.  When I received the news of Uncle Felix's (aka Mass Manchie's) death I felt great sadness for Aunt Lurline's loss.  They were married for over 60 years.  They have taken care of each other at every turn.  In fact, during the last few years of his life Uncle Felix was blind and was cared for by Lurline. In his time “Mass Manchie” to care of his fields and his family.  Uncle Felix was 93 years old.  So while we were sad for Aunt Lurline, we celebrated Uncle Felix’s wonderful life. 

Uncle Felix was quiet.  I have vivid memories of accompanying him to the pasture to get the goats or the cows and talking non-stop.  I talked and he listened.  He was generous with his time and resources and allowed those around him to be them self.  He fixed shoes for everyone in town and stories are always told about his dry wit and infectious smile.

During this recent visit, Debbie and I took walks to visit spots we vaguely remembered and we came to realize the beauty of Sturge Town.  We saw, with fresh eyes, its unspoiled beauty. People live a very simple life growing crops to sell and eat.  It was indeed a journey back to our childhood with adult eyes. 

  A Friend from my youth

Debbie and I used have to go to this tank to get water and bring it back home.

Debbie Mom and Me

One of the most exciting things about beginning this blog is the opportunity for me to exorcise the “writing block demon” that has been haunting me for most of the beginning of school.  I am not sure why I can't seem to get the words out.  It could be the busy start to the school year.  I have found myself excited about and distracted by so many different things happening at school this fall that I have been overwhelmed by the idea of accurately depicting the depth of my excitement and the substance of the actual events.  The whirlwind of my engagement stems from the great bunch of new faculty to Annemarie's 90th birthday celebration to the formative conversations during the accreditation process to the growing awareness that I belong to a community that is and has been primed to prepare kids for the future.  The fall has been great.

 The Beautiful Fall-----one excuse for writer's block

Annemarie's Birthday---another excuse

My inability to write could be connected to my realization that words have never fully captured the Roeper experience and as I accumulate years of knowledge about all that happens it is virtually impossible to get actually tell anyone person everything. 

So I guess those can serve as my excuses for not writing much this fall so far.   I have been too distracted and overwhelmed with the greatness of this place.  Blogging, however, seem to have given me the right opportunity to get back on track.  I am excited by this vehicle and it will serve as my new distraction that actually compliments my need.  I love the opportunity to share my excitement in words and other medium.  Being asked by Gene Batiste of NAIS to participate in this project is serendipitous. Thanks, Gene.  

A few years ago I wrote about how difficult it is to get people to understand Roeper unless one actually sees it in action.  I used the sports fan's use of the statement, "that's what I’m talkin’ about", to exemplify this dilemma.  Using a blog begins to bridge the communication gap that using only words can cause. What’s not to like. To be able to say and to show is the ultimate is exposition.  That is the personal adventure and potential for creativity that makes me most excited about my new blog.