Multicultural Affairs

International/Cultural Awareness Day

“The impact of a community extends beyond physical boundaries or borders. Our school community reaches far beyond our campus here at Walker. From alumni living around the world, to our Foreign Exchange Programs in France, Argentina and Germany and China, we are all connected. “

The Walker School International/Cultural Awareness Day celebration occurs every other school year and is an opportunity for our entire school community to learn about and celebrate the many cultures that shape this country. On this special day, the Walker School student body, along with parents, faculty and staff, will participate in various activities and presentations with the following goals:

1. Highlight the diversity of cultural heritage and traditions here at Walker.
2. Enhance cultural awareness, geographical knowledge and instill a deeper understanding of interdependence.
3. Promote responsible global citizenship by emphasizing the important role that the United States and its citizens play as key members of the world community.
4. Strengthen a sense of community through peer learning collaboration across all four school division.

Traditional Activities associated with our International/Cultural Awareness Day Celebrations include but are not limited to:
A Tour of Nations, Taste of Nations and a Parade of Nations

Sensitivity /Diversity Training

The Office of Multicultural Affairs is committed to providing our Faculty with the resources and training to allow them to meet the needs of a diverse student body. Through sensitivity training and diversity workshops we seek empower our faculty with the tools and skills to connect with a diverse student body creating a more inclusive environment where no student is marginalized.

Cultural Awareness Movie Series

The Cultural Awareness Movie Series provides Upper School students with a fun and informal setting to view and discuss movies from around the world. Before each movie, the students come together to taste food and listen to music from around the world.

International Exchanges and Partnerships

The Walker School’s international exchange programs provide our Faculty and our students with opportunities to explore the richness and diversity of other societies, while instilling respect for all people. Our international exchange programs were created with the goal of enhancing global awareness, developing cultural sensitivity ultimately promoting a deeper sense of global citizenship.

Each year, the Walker School welcomes a group of French, German and Argentine exchange students into our school and homes to provide a chance for students and their families to learn about other cultures and ideas and to share their own.

In the spring and summer, many of our host Upper School students travel to France, Germany or Argentina to stay with a host family while they attend classes and take tours throughout the country.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs collaborates with the Foreign Language Department to create and maintain these partnerships with schools across the world. Furthermore, the OMCA provides hospitality and information for our International guests.

The Walker School is committed to embracing its diverse educational community. Our picture of diversity includes gender, race, socio-economic, culture, ethnicity, religion, sexual-orientation, age and ability.

The Office of Multicultural strives to implement programming and facilitate dialogue that gives voice to the unique needs of a diverse population while also working together with our Board of Trustees, Administration, Faculty, Staff, alumni and student body to identify systems and mindsets that lead to marginalization while proactively working to find long lasting solutions.

Ultimately, we strive to empower our students through a variety of experiences with the strength and confidence to make a positive impact both within their community and on a global level.

The Walker School Diversity Leadership Program provides selected Upper School faculty and students with the opportunity to collaborate with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and our Upper School Administration, Faculty and Student body in the creation of activities and events that promote a deeper knowledge of self, respect for others and a commitment to equity and justice.

Our Faculty Diversity Leaders serve on a volunteer basis for 2 consecutive school years. The Faculty leaders work as facilitators for activities and events and also accompany the students to the National Association of Independent School’s People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership Conferences which are held each fall.

Candidates for our Student Diversity Leadership program are expected to fill out an application each spring and complete an approved summer reading selection. Students who are selected to the program are expected to attend meetings with the Director of Multicultural Affairs and the Director of Diversity on a weekly basis. The Student Diversity Leaders are also given the privilege of attending the National Association of Independent School’s Student Diversity Leadership Program and are required to share their experiences with the peers upon their return.

What is a Student Diversity Leader?

A Student Diversity Leader is an Ambassador for the Office of Multicultural Affairs representing the OMCA to the student body, Faculty, Administration and Board of Trustees and alumni. Our Student Diversity Leaders represent The Walker School at the National Association of Independent School’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference.

Individuals selected to this program are:

Agents of Change: The Student Diversity Leaders aid the Office of Multicultural Affairs in the development of activities and projects that address such themes as Equity and Justice, Diversity, Sensitivity and Cultural Awareness within our school and community. “ Our students act as liaisons between the SDLC and the student body. As agents, each student acts as an ambassador for change and works tirelessly to create an environment where diversity is appreciated and cherished.” Mr. Ira Dawson Upper Faculty Diversity Leader.

Committed: Student Diversity Leaders are committed to developing a perspective that values self-knowledge compassion, empathy, responsibility and active global citizenship.

Leaders: Our Student Diversity Leaders are selected from amongst their peers as leaders who are committed practitioners defending equality and justice even when seen as an unpopular stance.

The Walker School Office of Multicultural Affairs Summer Internship Program

The Walker School and the OMCA has partnered with CIFAL Atlanta (An International Training Center for Government Authorities and Civil Society Leaders) to create a unique summer internship program. This internship is offered to rising juniors and seniors who are interested in working as coordinators to plan and execute workshop and forums for local authorities from throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Other duties include, document translation, interpretation and hospitality.

If you are interested in this unique opportunity please contact Mr. Brown

For more information about CIFAL Atlanta go to www.cifalatlanta.org

Our Global Awareness club provides Upper School students with the opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions from around the world. Each month the Global Awareness Club meets to participate in activities and or excursions directed towards giving each member a deeper appreciation and understanding of the world we live in.

STAND

Starting in the Spring of 2010, the Office of Multicultural Affairs will sponsor our newest student organization, STAND.

“STAND, the student-led division of the Genocide Intervention Network, envisions a world in which the international community protects civilians from genocidal violence and elected officials are held accountable for their action, or inaction, in the face of genocide.

Born out of the fight to stop the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, STAND is devoted to creating a sustainable student network that actively fights genocide wherever it may occur. We seek to unite students around the world in a permanent anti-genocide constituency.”

For more information about STAND, please visit: http://www.standnow.org/

The Walker School Pays It Forward

The Wonder of Walker is that students are exposed to a multitude of cultural and academic experiences. These experiences lend themselves to the exemplary character that Walker students exude, especially the student diversity leaders. The students selected for this program were chosen based on their incredible philosophies of life and their desire to inspire change in the world around them.

Walker Pays It Forward is based on the idea that a good deed done for you should be repaid by doing a good deed for someone else. This program is designed to help students use their positive experiences and pass them along to others, thus beginning a chain of positive acts amongst the Walker student population and the community in large.