Eccles Inclusion Week makes space for everyone
Last week, the Eccles School community celebrated our second annual Eccles Inclusion Week. The theme for the week was “Engage. Lead. Impact.,” and each day included events to highlight the diversity in our school and create a more inclusive environment for all students, staff, and faculty.
Monday
As this year’s Inclusion Week coincided with the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, the week kicked off with students and staff joining the Office for Equity and Diversity in Monday’s rally and march from East High School to Kingsbury Hall.
Tuesday
Dean Taylor Randall participated in a “Dialoguing Across Difference” roundtable discussion with students, staff, and faculty. Participants considered different classroom scenarios and brainstormed solutions to improve the learning environment for all students.
Wednesday
Wednesday featured keynote speaker, Celina Milner, from the Office of Diversity and Human Rights at the Salt Lake City Mayor’s office. She shared insights on being an inclusive leader and the importance of civic engagement in creating positive change in our community.
Thursday
Gwendolyn Reynolds, Director for Sorenson Impact over Data, Policy, and Performance Innovation, moderated Thursday’s panel discussion “Crafting a Career with Impact.” Panelists shared the unique ways they’ve succeeded in making a difference through their work and advised students on ways they can find similar meaning in their own careers.
Friday
The week wrapped up with a Business Strategy Case Competition sponsored by Dominion Energy. Eight teams of Eccles’ students competed for scholarships by presenting solutions to a case involving gender stereotyping of children’s toys. Corporate partners from 20 different companies attended and spent lunch networking with the participants.
Every Day
The week also featured daily lobby activities, including an art installation composed of photographs of Eccles’ community members and what inclusion meant to them and a service project where students assembled hygiene kits that were donated to the Utah Refugee Connection to benefit local refugee communities.
We hope that participants found meaning in the events of the week, and appreciate everyone who participated!