Sophomores pose for a group photo after the October 21 , 2022 DBJ Summit .
DIGNITY , BELONGING , AND JUSTICE
D uring the height of the COVID pandemic , it became difficult to amplify that aspect of the Prep experience . Between hybrid learning , event cancellations , and the faces of the community hidden with masks , creating an environment of belonging at Rose Hill was challenging . The inspiration for the theme came from the realization that the last two years were so different for students , especially underclassmen , who were trying to find a way to fit in at the Prep . The theme set the right tone for a year that felt like a fresh start for everyone .
It ’ s just an opportunity for kids to hear from each other , learn from each other , and hopefully , understand how they can support each other .”
— Erica Keough , College Counselor and Assistant Director of DEI
There are numerous programs that allow students to “ find their place at the Prep ,” as seen on the “ Belonging ” graphic that has adorned physical and digital spaces during the year . With over 55 co-curricular activities and 40 interscholastic teams , there is no shortage of activities during which students can connect with each other .
Transitions are often challenging . This is especially true of a transition to a new school and a new community of peers . The Prep ’ s Department of Diversity , Equity , and Inclusion ( DEI ) works to ensure every Prep student has a chance to make their voice heard during Dignity , Belonging , and Justice ( DBJ ) summits . The summits are formatted as workshops that allow the student body to discuss issues in society and their effects on the Prep community .
“ The workshops give students the opportunity to examine issues related to how they fit into this environment and areas where there might be challenges to fitting in ,” said Religious Studies teacher and Director of DEI Randy Pedro P ’ 12 ’ 17 . He runs the workshops in the lower level of the Fordham University Church along with College Counselor and Assistant Director of DEI Erica Keough .
The DBJ workshops started in 2008 as a voluntary overnight retreat for students . During the pandemic , the retreats were held during the day at the Prep without the overnight component .
“ The kids loved it ,” Keough shared . “ It was like a deep dive into our culture in America and how it ’ s reflected in our corporate community . Every time we would do [ the workshops ], the kids would say , ‘ I wish every kid at Fordham Prep could participate in this ,’” she continued .
The workshops have evolved to cycle through the entire sophomore class from September to May . This gives students a year of acclimating and observing Prep life before taking on the summits .
“ One of the issues that kids have brought up in our workshops is that kids will sometimes make jokes that make fun of other kids ,” Keough explained . “ Maybe it ’ s race-related , maybe it ’ s sexuality related . And they think that it ’ s just being funny and that ’ s not really hurting anyone . Then some of the kids at whom these jokes are directed have an opening here to sort of say , ‘ You know what , it ’ s not funny .’”
The overall goal of the DBJ summits is to continually garner feedback from students on how to make Fordham Prep a better environment for fostering belonging .
“ We ’ re just facilitating conversations ,” Keough stated . “ We ’ re not saying that anybody has to be any certain way . It ’ s just an opportunity for kids to hear from each other , learn from each other , and hopefully , understand how they can support each other in a more appropriate way so that we can make a community where everyone feels they belong ,” she added .
SUMMER 2023 VOLUME 43 , ISSUE 2
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