At our 10th Annual Multicultural Symposium, we were challenged to “Mind the Gap” and build bridges to one another, beyond the surface of socio-economic class and status. A cornerstone of the day was a quote by author Zadie Smith, who said, “First we become mindful—and then we begin to mind.” This year’s theme, “Mind the Gap” is a play on London’s underground public transit system where passengers are warned to be conscious of dangerous gaps that might go un-noticed. Student organizers, seniors Maya H., Indigo V., and Austin W. led Wildwood students and faculty, visiting schools and faculty, featured guests, and speakers on an exploration of acceptance and inclusivity within and beyond the Wildwood community.

Keynote speaker, Alison Park, founder of Blink Educational Diversity Consulting, opened the symposium with the charge to, “Find the intersection of oppression and privilege to find empathy and action.” At nearly 50 workshop sessions, symposium participants did just that, exploring together through dialogue, movement, and creative expression.

The session, “Put Yourself in Their Shoes,” led by Wildwood senior Georgie M. and Johnny Duda from ChangeFire, was centered around a series of exercises designed to simulate what it’s like to live with learning differences. The exercises were stressful, tiring, and emotional, resulting in deeply personal reflections. “How Old is Old?” was a workshop led by Science Teacher Andrew Lappin that engaged participants in a spirited dialogue about ageism. The multi-generational group discovered that, “Just like teenagers, old people often feel ignored.”

A hands-on workshop called “I’m More Than Just My Selfie” led middle schoolers on an exploration of identity beyond the perceptions of social media. Facilitators and Wildwood faculty, Sandi Crozier and Monique Marshall, posed provocative questions like, “Who are we trying to be?” and “How do the expectations of others impact who we really are?”

The closing ceremonies began with a vibrant and delightful performance by Las Palmas Grupo Folklorico, which is a Mexican folkdance group made up of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students from Palms Elementary School in West Los Angeles. Then, Wildwood student-performers took to the stage. A series of vignettes, called “What Gap?” brought to light commonplace microaggressions that communicate hostile or negative insults toward people. In these brief dialogues, the audience was reminded about the need for all of us to be reflective and mindful of our interpersonal actions.

Student and combined student-faculty performances continued, along with a profound spoken word performance by artist Marshall Davis Jones. The audience was moved as they listened intently to his emotional social and political commentary and revealing personal stories about being raised by a single mother. We then heard the celebratory sounds of Wildwood’s own singing popular songs with strong messages and a final word from the symposium’s student organizers who concluded, “We have different stories, but our identities connect.”

Congratulations to all of the Wildwood student leaders and faculty/staff participants who made this inspiring and thought-provoking event possible.