St. Paul’s School fosters an environment that welcomes students from all over the world. With different cultures, traditions, and stories, SPS acknowledges and celebrates the diversity and inclusion of all students on our campus. AAPI Heritage Month, otherwise known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, designates the month of May to recognize various Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. Throughout May, faculty and students hope to convey the messages and stories of this demographic and engage students and peers in immersive cultural experiences to not only celebrate cuisine, arts, and traditions but also educate about different cultures and their ways of life.
Several faculty members led by Bethany Dickerson Wynder, the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Initiatives at SPS, and students from numerous affinity groups have connected to create a month filled with programs, events and activities. The collaboration showcases diversity in culture and tradition, bringing to light the stories of our fellow students. Wynder participates and plays a role in collaborating with faculty and students to create the framework for AAPI month. “One of my roles is to help foster an environment where students and adults feel empowered to codesign and shape AAPI Heritage Month,” says Wynder, highlighting the planning process and what it entails to create a month-long program that aims to provide a glimpse into a diverse array of Asian cultures and traditions.
The theme of this year’s AAPI month is “Our Stories.” Therefore, in alignment with this goal, the planning committee has organized Chapel speakers and classroom visitors to enhance the impact of AAPI month. These special guests will also speak with affinity and alliance groups to engage with students of the same identity or culture. Furthermore, in collaboration with affinity groups, Flik will feature meals of various Asian cuisines, including themed dinners every Thursday night: South Asian night, Pacific Islander night, noodle bar night, and sushi night to close the month.
Wynder emphasizes, “We not only want to celebrate the food, fun, and festivities in different ways, but we also want to educate, which is an important part of our work.” Education manifests itself through a poster display from the Smithsonian Institute displayed throughout Ohrstrom Library, Chapel talks and the Crumpacker Gallery Show: Between East and West by Yeonsoo Kim and Jihye Han. “It is important to know that we have students who are members of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora that should be celebrated in and out of the classroom, in May, but also throughout the entire year,” says Wynder. While St. Paul’s School regularly observes and celebrates AAPI Heritage Month, the School also works to raise awareness of stories in the Asian diaspora throughout the school year.