• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
“Let’s Talk About It”: Lawrentians Create DEI Discussion Series

Last summer as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on, Fifth Formers Ijeamaka Achebe and Ava Conyer found themselves amidst a parallel pandemic. After the killing of George Floyd ignited protests and an historic reckoning with racial injustice across the country, the two Lawrentians grappled with how they and their peers at Lawrenceville could address issues like police brutality and race.

Friends since their Second Form year, Achebe and Conyer conceived of a discussion series they titled “Let’s Talk About” that took place throughout the fall term, giving Lawrentians a framework for talking through current events related to race, equity, and social justice.

Moment from “Let’s Talk About” discussion series

“We planned a lot over the summer,” Achebe says, noting that she and Conyer decided to aim for four events per term, all around a certain theme. They collaborated with Assistant Dean of Students Emilie Kosoff and Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Rick Holifield to talk through the structure of the events and how to manage the logistics of hybrid virtual and in-person events.

“We identified problems we saw with spaces to talk about DEI issues at Lawrenceville with other students,” Conyer says. “We met with student leaders and asked them their perspective on students - what are the issues that they see in students being comfortable in spaces that pertain to identity. A lot of students don’t feel like they know enough so we tried to hit on that aspect.”

Wide shot of many masked students during moment from “Let’s Talk About” discussion series

“We did a lot of research for our police brutality talk over the summer and got research done, had a presentation pulled together, and worked with Dr. Friedlander, [religion and philosophy teacher and diversity coordinator] as our faculty advisor, to help with logistics,” she adds.

For their first event on police brutality, Achebe and Conyer gave a presentation, then used Harkness-inspired smaller group discussions facilitated by Diversity Council members.

“We gave a bunch of community guidelines because we focus a lot on the conversation part, and we also came up with our own guided questions that we refined,” Achebe says. “We tried to give a lot of questions so facilitators could pick and choose. At the end, we had students come back from breakout rooms for a debrief, and that ended up being another conversation - different from what was going on in the groups.”

Moment from “Let’s Talk About” discussion series

Subsequent discussions on colorism, white privilege and the “model minority” myth featured participant activities, included faculty and staff perspectives, and welcomed participation by students less familiar with diversity conversations.

“A lot of times diversity work seems exclusive to people who know it and have been doing it since freshman year,” Achebe says. “We wanted people who aren’t typically seen in those spaces [to join]. It’s us validating them as people who have an interesting perspective and have something to say.

Achebe says entering the events with an open mind was key to productive conversations.

“If you are there with the intent of changing someone else’s mind, maybe that’s not the space for you,” she says. “Even if you’re firm in your position, everyone goes in trying to get something out of it and open to the idea of your own perspectives changing.”

“It’s important to remember that everybody makes mistakes and everyone doesn’t know everything - you’re not going to know everything,” Conyer adds. “In making mistakes, we have to be able to critique each other’s ideas without attacking someone. You’ll never learn anything more if you don’t make mistakes.”

Moment from “Let’s Talk About” discussion series

Achebe emphasizes that she and Conyer made sure attendees knew that the panelists were not experts - rather everyone was still learning.

“With DEI work, you’re not always going to be right,” Conyer says. “These ideas are so nuanced you might have two right answers and three wrong answers.”

As winter term gets underway, Achebe and Conyer are already planning their next series of “Let’s Talk About” discussions with a focus on gender and sexuality. Eventually, they hope the series grows into a permanent part of the Lawrenceville experience.

For additional information, please contact Lisa M. Gillard Hanson, director of Public Relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.