Today marks the start of Black History Month, and sophomore Deven Sainte-Rose hopes fellow students not only take away a better understanding of the importance of Black history — he also hopes to expand the school community’s involvement and engagement with Black students.
“Black History Month is important because it’s necessary to highlight and celebrate Black history and culture, but I feel another important goal is to promote inclusivity,” says Sainte-Rose, who is also a member of the Black Association of Stevenson Students (BASS) club. “People may think our club is mainly for Black students, but it’s not true.”
To better engage more of our school community, BASS Club has partnered with other student organizations to create a series of events throughout the month. They include a screening of Academy Award-nominated film "Hidden Figures" and an interactive activity and discussion about lesser-known Black visionaries. BASS has also partnered with Diversity Council on an expansive showcase focused on Black culture and a dance performance.
Students play an integral role in Stevenson’s commitment to equity and ensuring a sense of inclusion, belonging and dignity for the entire school community. Sainte-Rose hopes students from all corners of Stevenson’s community stay engaged with equity and race issues beyond this month’s activities.
“One of the best things about BASS is that it's very welcoming. Regardless of ethnicity, anyone can join or participate in our weekly meetings and activities,” he says. To learn more about the Black History Month activities planned by BASS, visit the Black History Month page on Stevenson's website (d125.org/black-history-month).
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Deven Sainte-Rose's story is part of Stories of Stevenson, a new series featuring students, faculty and staff who inspire us everyday. You can find Stories of Stevenson each month in the Daily Digest and on Facebook, Instagram and the internal monitors around school! #storiesofstevenson