by the ISB Parent Diversity Committee

International School of Brooklyn’s Diversity Committee started this year as a committee of two that was trying to answer two questions: what does diversity mean for International School of Brooklyn and its community, and how can we discuss diversity in a manner that would initiate conversation within the ISB community?  

Our first programming effort was to highlight cultural activities and events within New York City in ISB’s weekly email. It was our hope that families would avail themselves of these opportunities to explore the different cultures that exist in New York, and continue the conversations that began within the ISB community. As a committee, we understand that mutual respect of cultural differences creates a nurturing environment for all within ISB community.

Secondly, we created and implemented the Diversity Survey, hoping it would provide us with insight into how the ISB community viewed diversity and areas where they wanted more programming. The Diversity Survey was a huge success; we received 84 individual responses from community members who confirmed that they would like more programming on topics relating to race, gender and class. Please take the time to read Rebecca Skinner’s end of the year report for a more detail summary of the survey results.

Finally, we hosted Dr. Howard Stevenson’s presentation “Teaching Tolerance: How to talk to your child about race”. This event was attended by approximately 45 people, who seemed interested and engaged in the discussion. Since the event, many individuals have expressed a desire to have a follow-up discussion about this topic, and the Diversity Committee is exploring ways to facilitate this. This event has set the bar for the type and quality of programming that the Diversity Committee would like to bring to the ISB community.

The Diversity Committee has now grown (and we are seeking more to join us!), and we have been busy planning events for next year. We have a parent workshop with Luba Falk Feigenberg, Research Project Director at Harvard University’s Making Caring Common, scheduled for September 28th. Ms. Feigenberg will lead a discussion on how to discuss socioeconomic class with your child and how to ensure that they are caring and thoughtful beings. We are in discussions with a professor from New York University to come in speak about social emotional issues relating to gender as well.

We hope that the Diversity Committee will be able to carry the momentum that was created this year into next year by creating more programming that stimulates discussion and leads to mutual respect for all within the ISB community.

ISB Diversity Committee 2015-2016

Donyell Thompson

Tiziana Brazzioli

Jennifer Benn

Melissa Magallanes

Gretchen Drobnyk