On Wednesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 15, Little Flower celebrated Unity Days! We continued our discussion and training of all Little Flower students in their understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with an in-school virtual workshop lead by Krista Leh from Tom Stecher Assoc. from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM each day. A group of student leaders from all grade levels has been trained to facilitate group discussions, and faculty will also participate.
After speaking to a few of our Unity Day Leaders, the importance of such a day was truly brought to light. Angela Rivera, a junior at Little Flower, stated that Unity Day is an opportunity for us all to come together “no matter our race, differences, or where we came from.” Despite our differences, we can all unite to gain a common understanding. Felicitas Tananibe, also a junior, discussed the impact open conversation can have on our school community. When we discuss our differences in respectful ways, we allow our true stories to be heard. Through such dialog, “we show an understanding of the problems in our society. And find ways to solve them.”
Our student leaders also put an emphasis on what we can do beyond Unity Day to ensure Little Flower creates an inclusive atmosphere. For Angela, this starts with empowering all to speak on times when they have not felt this sense of unity. Once an issue has been brought to light, “we can all work on changing that'' to ensure it never happens again. Felicitas felt that for this to work, we all need to be active listeners to understand different perspectives. Because we have not all had the same experiences, listening allows us to gain a deeper understanding and sense of solidarity for one another. Our student leaders also spoke on the symbols of Unity they see in Philadelphia, including the protests, parades, and statements from sports teams and athletes. These examples allow us to see that Unity Day is much more than a day; it is a mindset that we continue to carry with ourselves. We salute our student leaders for their hard work, and the entire Little Flower community for embracing Unity Day.