The Beginning in the End

Here I post at both the beginning and the end of our adventure.

It was amazing to be with the girls and James on this journey. A mile above school and a thousand miles from home we were provoked, strengthened, shocked, and inspired as individuals and as members of the Severn community.

The entirety of my time at the PoCC was spent in workshops specifically designed to help and encourage students to bring back their experiences to their home communities. On Thursday I attended "Enhancing and Empowering Student Leadership After SDLC," "Holding Up The Mirror: Female Relationships in Independent Schools," and "Symbols of the Institution: The Deerfield Academy Identity Project." The following day was kicked off by the movie "The Prep School Negro," a discussion with the documentary's director and star, and the excellent workshop "I Learned Who I Was When... Identity Development in Upper Schools." I now have some tremendous new tools to help Keisha, Mona, Mia, and Lillie develop meaningful dialogue back at school. Beyond talks and movies, though, I have already seen how the experiences, friendships, and dialogues begun in Denver have already left indelible impressions on who we are as the Denver contingent of the PoCC/SDLC. Over the course of three days we grew together. By sharing our individual experiences over breakfasts and fast walks in the brisk mountain air, we became more than lone travelers on the same trip.

Joining the Multi-Racial/Multi-Ethnic affinity group was my powerful individual experience at the conference. Our affinity group had a cheer that simultaneously made us laugh and joined us together in our most common experience:

"Everywhere we go

People want to know

WHAT we are are

So we tell them

We are multi-racial. Multi-multi-racial..."

After numerous encounters with strangers in Barnes & Noble inquiring where I'm from, it was invigorating to be in a room full of people who've shared the same experiences of being a child of America's tremendous Melting Pot. My Chicago German-Irish-Italian-Dutch-Spanish-Mexican heritage was celebrated as never before. From literally being "Other" on standardized tests and questionnaires, last week everyone found a group. The most powerful experience of all was the ability to encourage the next generation of Americans who can and do cross all racial and ethnic divides by their mere being.

Above all else, I'd like to thank our young ladies for being tremendous leaders and organizers for the most powerful part of the conference on Saturday. Way to go each and every one of you. From our conversations walking around Denver to those at the end of each day, I am confident in telling our readers that these strong young women will bring back something extraordinary to Severn from the Mile High City.

Thank you all for the opportunities you gave to me this week - from going the conference, becoming a new friend and mentor, hearing your joys and sorrows at the conference, and sharing in this experience I am - and will remain - tremendously grateful. Now, onwards to the next stage: bringing back our three incredible days to your friends and our colleagues. You have the passion. Let the fun begin!

~Ms. Mary Ellen Leuver