Woodlands Academy explores paths to greater inclusion

In an increasingly polarized society, Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart set aside the usual classroom routine Jan. 24.

Students, faculty and staff spent the day exploring ways of building bridges toward greater inclusion and equity in society by grounding themselves in the Sacred Heart values of community and relationships.

"We're taking time out of our busy schedules to address these topics because our mission as a Sacred Heart school demands it of us," Principal Rocco Gargiulo said.

"One of the five goals of a Sacred Heart education calls us to act as a powerful force of good wherever we see injustice, while another calls us all to construct a community that is inclusive and respectful of all of its members.

"Over the last 18 months, Woodlands Academy faculty and staff have been engaged in many activities to create a more inclusive community, such as creation of the Inclusion and Diversity Committee."

This day of dialogue and reflection at the all-girls, college-prep high school in Lake Forest included an interfaith prayer service, during which area representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Islamic faiths joined in a celebration of values they share.

Prayers, readings from Bible scriptures and the Quran, and reflections were offered by Helena Abushamaa, religious activity coordinator, Islamic Foundation North in Libertyville; the Rev. Mark Hindman and the Rev. Tracy Hindman of Union Church in Lake Bluff; Anne Lidsky, Ph.D., director of religious education at Temple Jeremiah in Northfield; and Rajul Bhalala and Shubi Mansukhani, Chinmaya Mission Chicago in Grayslake, representing the Hindu faith.

Woodlands Academy students then had the opportunity to learn more about the various faith traditions from these representatives during an informal session following the service.

Another key component of the day was entire school training in Generation Global's "Essentials of Dialogue." Generation Global is the school dialogue program of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

The event's keynote address, delivered by Roger Moreano, director of equity and inclusion at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, focused on issues of racism, power, and privilege.

Moreano also led the day's "Supporting One Another" sessions. He has a bachelor's degree in political science and international relations from Northern Illinois University and a master's degree from Webster University.

Other speakers/discussion leaders during the "Open Hearts: Be the Change" day at Woodlands Academy included:

• Gizelle Clemens, diversity and inclusion project manager at the Chicago-based Accreditation Council for Graduation Medical Education, who also co-chairs the Grantmaking Committee of the Young Women's Giving Council at the Chicago Foundation for Women, led sessions dealing with microaggressions.

• Claire Lorentzen, director of mission engagement for the Conference of Sacred Heart Education, discussed the Sacred Heart mission and the ways it seeks to build the most inclusive communities possible.

• Marian McNair, a Lake Forest-based artist, sound therapist and yoga instructor, who uses music and vibrational sound as a tool for healing on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.

While Woodlands Academy's "Open Hearts: Be the Change" event ended with reflection groups and a community commitment prayer, discussions of the lessons learned during the day will extend beyond Jan. 24.

School officials intend to continue the dialogue aimed at embracing diversity on a regular basis with a goal of helping students feel like they can be agents of change.

For more information about Woodlands Academy, visit www.woodlandsacademy.org.

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