Saint Mary's School hosts Triangle Diversity Alliance September 28, 2016

RALEIGH, N.C. - Sept. 22, 2016 - PRLog -- Saint Mary's School is pleased to host the 2016 Triangle Diversity Alliance, Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Triangle Diversity Alliance is an alliance of students, faculty, and staff who represent diversity in local independent schools including Carolina Friends School, Cary Academy, Durham Academy, Ravenscroft School, and Saint Mary's School.

The alliance works to provide an environment of support where students can share their experiences in their respective schools, formulate resolutions, affirm their identity, cultivate leadership skills, make new friends, and become active agents for change in their schools and in the world.

The Triangle Diversity Alliance seeks to initiate a coalition of students who represent diversity in independent schools to provide them with opportunities to express their shared and individual concerns as students of diversity in an overall homogenous environment.

The day will begin with the opening session featuring keynote speaker, Eric Osorio, associate head of the Swift School in Atlanta. An independent school educator for the past 19 years, Eric Osorio began as an intern in the admission office at the Noble and Greenough School just outside of Boston.  In his twelve-year tenure, Eric grew beyond the admissions office, taking on the role of expanding the diversity program at the school.  Initially a minor role focused on student programming, Eric's work led to broader diversity efforts, including establishing strategic diversity goals, and in 2006, he was appointed the school's first Dean of Diversity Initiatives, a senior-level administrative position.  After four years as assistant head of Upper School at Packer Collegiate Institute, Eric returned to the New England region in 2012 to oversee student life at Worcester Academy as dean of students for the 6-12 school community.  A born and raised New Yorker, Eric currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, serving as a co-chair for the Trustee Program Committee.  He is also a member of Call-to-Action, a national think-tank of diversity practitioners who serve as an advisory board to NAIS and the Vice President of Leadership and Diversity. Eric has presented his work and research at both regional and national conferences including NAIS Annual Conference and NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC).  In 2007, he was honored to serve as one of the co-chairs of NAIS PoCC Local Planning Committee. Eric earned a B.A. from Tufts University, where he was a double major in Sociology and International Relations. He also holds an M.A. in Private School Leadership from Teachers College and was honored to receive a Joseph Klingenstein Fellowship.  His research project was focused on diversity efforts in corporate America and the implications and lessons for independent schools.   In addition to his administrative duties, he partners with his wife Roberta to chase their five-year old twins Jasmine and Jordan around Atlanta.

Throughout the morning, students will participate in break-out sessions on privilege and affirmative action, media identity, and accessibility. There will be a large group identity fishbowl activity, lunch, local community organization fair, and the closing session featuring a panel of community organizations, a performance, and closing remarks.

One need only look at recent headlines to understand the importance of these types of conversation and intentional work around diversity, as we prepare the next generation of leaders to build a better world around us.