August 8-11 Diversity, Privilege, and Multiculturalism

OUR FIRST DURANGO SUMMER CONFERENCE

Distinct from our regular workshops, this summer workshop is a larger, interactive workshop that provides the top educators in an area of particular interest to Independent Schools.  Each year, this workshop will change the way that you think about the conference topic and provide rich resources for addressing these issues in your school.

Is your school really flourishing from the rich diversity that a boarding school can provide?

The amalgamation of resources, politics, technology and global cultures have created a “new normal” in even the most traditional of boarding schools.  Schools have the opportunity and the challenge of creating individuals and communities that question cultural and personal assumptions in ways that refocus conflict and create genuine understanding.  This workshop will provide serious dialogue and concrete approaches for creating peaceful, responsible global communities.

Today’s schools and world require students to understand the dynamics of diversity in ways that can be challenging to young adults whose brains and skills are not as sophisticated as their experience.  For some, exposure is enough to help them gain empathy and understanding; for most, however, exposure without insight can create misunderstanding and intolerance.  

As our school communities create communities that reflect the social, ethnic, cultural, and individual diversity of the world, it is our obligation to help students process their place in the world and gain a confident, candid respect for others different than themselves.

You will leave this workshop with a focused understanding of the underlying issues of creating a truly diverse school community and practical ways to address them. In order to get to take full advantage of this time, it is strongly recommended that each school send a team of two or more. A special rate is available to help make this possible.

This workshop will address issues of diversity related to:

Physical Appearances and Abilities

International and Cultural Diversity

Gender and Sexual Orientation

Intellectual and Learning Diversity

Socioeconomic Diversity

Third Culture Communities

This workshop will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Durango, Colorado.  Sessions will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon August 8.  Sessions will end at 5:00 pm on Saturday, August 11.  Participants can fly directly into Durango La Plata Airport on United, Frontier, American and US Air Airlines. Transportation will be provided to the hotel.   Dress for the conference will be informal and comfortable. Participants will be housed in a single room; breakfast and lunch will be provided during the workshop.