In spring 2021, Wildwood’s Multicultural Parent Multicultural Collaborative (PMC) hosted “The Story of US: The Asian American Lens on Racism America.” The virtual event was a conversation with Sharon Kwon, social worker and psychotherapist, and Renee Tajima-Peña, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and UCLA Asian Studies Professor. The conversation was moderated by Karen Dye, Wildwood’s Director of Equity and Inclusion, and Monique Marshall, former Wildwood School educator and dedicated antiracist, diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant.
As Wildwood is committed to the hard work of confronting and examining issues surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, it was important for our community to discuss the anti-Asian sentiment and violence against Asian Americans, which reached a peak at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before engaging in the evening’s program, Karen began the evening with a protocol from Courageous Conversation About Race Protocol®, which is used by Wildwood faculty, staff, and students in navigating conversations about race. The protocol asks people to ground themselves in how they are feeling and thinking as they enter the space and encourages open and honest dialogue around the complex issues of anti-racism and social justice. In candid conversation, Sharon and Renee shared their own experiences as Asian American women, adding personal and historical context to the issues of the day. They also shared hope for the future work of combating racial hatred.
Learn more about Wildwood School's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
- Spring 2021
