Equity and Justice

The Student Identity & Equity Organizations at Marin Academy are open to anyone who would like to participate. These organizations include Asian Student Organization, Black Student Union, Exploring M.E. (Multiple Ethnicities), Gay Straight Alliance, Jew Crew, and Latino Student Union. To find out more, come to a meeting and get involved!

We also have several affinity groups at MA who meet to discuss issues that are specific to the identity of their constituents. These affinity groups include Folks, W.I.S.E. and White Consciousness. We believe all of MA's affinity groups affirm identity and build community. Our collective objective is to unite and integrate, not to divide and separate.

Uncensored 2008: Conversations We're Not Having
Saturday, March 15 ~ 11 AM - 5 PM

We are thrilled to invite you to our second annual multicultural conference, "Uncensored," being held on Saturday, March 15th. Our vision is to create an open atmosphere where participants are asked to examine and discuss issues of equity and justice within their communities. We hope to fuel deep thinking and share authentic perspectives through workshop discussions, affinity groups, creative expression and informal dialogue. The workshops will specifically be focused on equity in education, standards of beauty, gender roles, eco-elitism, when comedy crosses the line, and more. There will be a concurrent adult session led by Sally Matsuishi of Next Generation Scholars, for those who are interested.

This free event is organized by Marin Academy students for youth in bay area high schools. This year, our keynote speakers, Cesar Cruz and Khalil Anthony Peebles of Youth Speaks, are activists, spoken word artists and educators.

We ask that each student fill out a registration form and groups of 5 or more be accompanied by a chaperone. Lunch & snacks will be provided for this event.

CLICK HERE to download the registration form and fax it to MA.

CLICK HERE for a flyer to post on your school campus.

For more information please contact: Sanjai Moses, Dean of Multicultural Life at smoses@ma.org or Joani Lacey, School Counselor at jlacey@ma.org.

2007 Uncensored workshops:

I Deserve This: Conversations on Meritocracy and Privilege.
An interactive workshop aimed at exploring equal opportunity and the attainability of the American Dream.

Soul Searching:
We will explore the nature of religion’s role in our personal identities and lives by discussing the messages that the media, our families, and our schools portray about religion and spirituality.

Boxed In:
How do stereotypes impact identity? In this workshop we will discuss what defines our identity and examine how labeling can impact our own personal identity?

School's Out:
Experiences in a Heterosexual World. In this workshop you will participate in a thought provoking activity in which you will examine heterosexism and homophobia from multiple perspectives and discover how both affect all of us on a daily basis.

What up, my N!@#*$?:
Through dialogue and presentation, this interactive workshop will explore the usage and controversy of a word that is deeply rooted in our national psyche but is rarely talked about.

I love everything about you…but you:
In this workshop we will examine the ways in which youth borrow from cultures other than their own. What are the costs and benefits of appropriating someone else’s culture? Where do we draw the line?

Adult session:
Screening of “Race: the power of an illusion”. A documentary series that challenges our most fundamental beliefs about race. Teachers, faculty and parents are welcome.

Student Organizations

Asian Student Organization
The Asian Student Organization (ASO) is dedicated to informing and educating the entire MA community about Asian and Asian American cultures. We strive to provide an open environment for discussion in order to promote awareness around these issues.
Student Leaders: Elena Scott, Cat Lum & Matt Rowett
Adult Advisors: Jiazhen Zhang & Hideko Akashi

Black Student Union
The Black Student Union is an organization dedicated primarily to addressing the political and social needs of Black people at Marin Academy. We provide a forum to discuss issues that are prevalent within the Black community in and outside of Marin Academy, and a structure for organizing positive cultural and educational activities and events. We want to educate others while educating ourselves, and most importantly, BSU strives to create a real sense of unity and support for students of African descent on campus.
Student Leaders: Ciku Karanja, Fenyang Smith & Kamilah Weeks
Adult Advisor: Nicole Stanton

Exploring M.E. (Multiple Ethnicities)
Multiple Ethnicities provides a safe environment for members of the MA community to explore their multiple ethnicities, and to create a way for them to better understand their own identities and the identities of others through constructive group discussion.
Student Leaders: Mitch Scott, Michael Aiyar, Natasha Zouves & Juliana Britto-Schwartz
Adult Advisor: Trixie Sabandayo

Folks
Folks aims to create a safe space for students and adults who identify as people of color to meet, have lunch together, discuss a range of topics, or just hang out. We believe that this setting allows for honest dialogue, which in turn helps us to reach our ultimate goal: to find support among each other so that we can more fully engage in all corners of the broader Marin Academy community.
Adult Leader: Jiazhen Zhang

Gay Straight Alliance
The mission of the Gay Straight Alliance at Marin Academy is to create a comfortable, accepting, fun and engaging environment in which participants can openly discuss and learn about issues relating to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning community. The club strives to facilitate the MA community's exploration, knowledge, expression, and awareness of this important topic. Film, discussion, panels, and various activities/events will be used to help achieve this mission. All are welcome!
Student Leaders: Lea Gee-Tong & Anjuli Baranz
Adult Advisors: J O’Malley & Stephen Baldwin

Jew Crew
Jew Crew hosts monthly meetings and events for the whole MA community. We welcome Jews and non-Jews to explore, learn about, and participate in Jewish life, culture, and identity.
Student Leaders: Matt Bedrick, Brian Fleisher, Elianna Fred & Mickey Capper
Adult Advisor: Brad Lakritz

Latino Student Union
Latino Student Union was created to bring a cultural, social, and educational awareness about Latino heritage and past. Latino Student Union serves the MA community by introducing to them the richness of various Latino cultures (Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Costa Rican, Puerto Rican, etc). The purpose of this organization is to encourage students to look at the issues that affect not only the Latino community but also the United States as a whole. By raising awareness about these widespread issues we intend to unite Latino and non- Latino students towards a common understanding.
Student Leaders: Rebecca Nunez, Cassie Ramos, Sharon Maldonado & Luis Sanchez
Adult Advisor: Maria Turner-Lloveras

White Consciousness
The intentions for the White Consciousness (WC) affinity group are to bring forth and analyze what it means to be white in our society while working towards racial equity. We invite students who self-identify as white to join us for these monthly lunchtime discussions. Like other affinity groups at MA, WC will meet to discuss issues that are specific to the identity of its constituents.
Adult Leaders: Betsy Muir, J O'Malley, Sanjai Moses, Lynne Hansen, Jenny Rosenberg, Jim Baldwin & Bill Meyer

Women In Support & Empowerment
W.I.S.E. is a dedicated group of young women investigating issues that influence and affect our lives. In this group, we will discuss the various images and realities with which we are confronted and how these ÒrealitiesÓ shape our lives. In our bi-monthly meetings, we aim to build a sense of community and a safe, inviting place for young women to talk and support each other.
Adult Facilitators: Joani Lacey & Trixie Sabundayo