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Intercultural Affairs
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Experience Education
Intercultural Affairs
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Bush School
At The Bush School, we strive for every member of our community to be seen, heard, and valued. As we move toward the ideals of equity and inclusion, we affirm that a broad range of experiences and viewpoints enhance learning and make our community stronger. We stand united against all acts of discrimination and injustice. By centering a multiplicity of voices, we constructively address tensions, heal hurt with intentional dialogue, and celebrate personal and collective joys. This work is the responsibility of every member of our community.
We believe that the intellectual, emotional, social, and psychological development of our students happens most effectively in a community that embraces and values diversity, whether based on cultural and ethnic background, nationality, socioeconomic status,
gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion or creed, ability/disability, learning differences, age or generation, in addition to beliefs and values, and attitudes and opinions.
We believe that a community that welcomes, respects, and values different experiences, perspectives, and points of view establishes a platform for the development and exchange of new ideas, innovation, creativity, problem-solving, improved decision making and critical
thinking, as well as a more dynamic educational and life experience.
thinking, as well as a more dynamic educational and life experience.
Bush Terms, Defined:
Intercultural Fluency: The ability to interact across cultural lines with ease and compassion.
Local and Global Citizenship: Understanding the many communities that each of us is a part of—our grade, school, family, neighborhood, city, country, and world—and seeking to play a positive role in each community.
Intercultural Fluency: The ability to interact across cultural lines with ease and compassion.
Local and Global Citizenship: Understanding the many communities that each of us is a part of—our grade, school, family, neighborhood, city, country, and world—and seeking to play a positive role in each community.
Welcoming New Families
The school’s program for welcoming and orienting new families is intended to create broad support and inclusion for new families and students with an emphasis on historically underrepresented families and students. The orientation of new families leads to the development of meaningful relationships among current families, new families and key school personnel.
The school’s program for welcoming and orienting new families is intended to create broad support and inclusion for new families and students with an emphasis on historically underrepresented families and students. The orientation of new families leads to the development of meaningful relationships among current families, new families and key school personnel.
Curriculum and Program
Bush faculty nurture and teach intercultural fluency and local and global citizenship in age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate ways. Our curriculum is designed to enable our students to gain the the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to interact productively with others, to understand one another, and to act with equity, justice, and compassion.
Bush faculty nurture and teach intercultural fluency and local and global citizenship in age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate ways. Our curriculum is designed to enable our students to gain the the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to interact productively with others, to understand one another, and to act with equity, justice, and compassion.
Professional Development
To ensure that our faculty and staff are equipped to effectively assist in furthering these principles, the school provides our faculty and staff with the necessary skills to succeed. The school enables faculty and staff to teach and model the skills, attitudes, and behaviors that allow people with different backgrounds, perspectives, beliefs, and worldviews to work together and effectively serve all our students.
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Kimberlee
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Director of Intercultural Affairs Kimberlee Williams
Director of Intercultural Affairs Kimberlee Williams has extensive experience in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within independent schools and the nonprofit sector throughout the country. Her deep commitment to and experience with building inclusive communities includes leading a schoolwide diversity leadership team, working to recruit and retain faculty and students of color, organizing affinity groups, designing and implementing curriculum, mentoring students and serving as advisor for the Black and Latina Student Unions and Gay Straight Alliance, offering workshops to promote racial healing and understanding, advising school leadership, and supporting admissions and advancement initiatives.
In Honor of Black History
In honor of Black History Month, The Bush School highlighted Bush students, faculty, and staff through I am Black History, a series to shine a light on this community-within-our-community, and to show that Black history is not just made up of national heroes and iconoclasts, but also the everyday heroes who shape our experiences and give so much to our lives–our students, teachers, and staff.
List of 8 news stories.
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Amaré F. ’23
Read More“Everyone is my role model. I learn from each and every person I meet.”
Amaré F. is a Tenth Grade student at The Bush School. To Amaré, “Being Black means LOVE. Black means STRENGTH. Black means UNITY. But Black isn't a commodity.” To celebrate Black History Month, Amaré plans “to educate myself as well as others on the obscured histories and perspectives of the Black community.”
His favorite class is Race in America because “it is the most eye-opening class I've ever taken.” His hobbies include playing basketball and collecting shoes. He notes, “Funny enough these are some of the most stereotypical Black hobbies, though this doesn't make me any more or less ‘Black.’”
When asked how he will change the world, Amaré said, “Though an individual may possess the influence to pave a path for millions to follow suit, in the end, the existence of a person capable of creating universal change within the world is nothing but a false reality. To change the world it takes a community—one that spans the entire globe, stretching as far as you can see. So here's my question: ‘How will my community change the world?’ There's a vast sea of hardships and injustices that my community faces. However, I believe that in order to even begin to change the world, we, as people of ALL identities—no matter the tone of our skin, no matter the religion we believe in, no matter our the gender we identify as, no matter our sexual orientation, no matter our political stance, no matter our beliefs—must come together to eradicate the distorted impressions of the very Black people who have been misrepresented for centuries. Then, we change the world.”
If you identify as Black and are interested in sharing part of your story, we hope you will fill out the form located at the top of The Blazer Bulletin. We will create an I am Black History photo book using your images and stories. -
Cordelia S-H. ’29
Read More“My role models are Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, activists, Barack Obama, and Lizzo.”Cordelia is a Fourth Grade student at The Bush School. She shared, “Art is my favorite class because it makes me feel calm.” In her spare time, Cordelia enjoys a lot of hobbies including drawing, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, and skiing.
When asked what it means to her to be Black, Cordelia answered, “It means that I can learn all about what my ancestors had to go through.” Cordelia hopes to change the world by educating people about climate change. She wants to be remembered for protecting animal habitats. -
Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Adam Choice
Read More“I hope to bring positivity to the world. I plan to continue championing, fighting for, and supporting all marginalized people.”Adam Choice is the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at The Bush School. His hobbies include reading, playing basketball, and skateboarding. If Adam was a student at Bush, he thinks his favorite class would be the “Sociology of Malcolm X, because Malcolm X is one of the most inspirational figures in history and has made a profound impact on the way I view the world. I even have a tattoo of his iconic eyeglasses!
When asked what it means to be Black to Adam, he shared, “I could go on forever here, but to keep it short, I love being Black. While I identify as biracial, I also identify as Black, because I align more closely with Black culture and the world sees me as a Black man. Being Black comes with beauty and heartache, and is an experience like none other. I'm constantly inspired by those who came before me, as well as the youth.”
Adam is inspired by Colin Kaepernick and LeBron James. He noted, “Kap was willing to give up his passion of playing football to stand up and fight for justice. His growth as a young Black man over the years inspires me daily and I can only hope to be as impactful as him. LeBron is another role model of mine. As a Black man who has had the spotlight on him since he was a teenager, he has exceeded all expectations and continues to serve as an inspiration for all. Bron has also grown over the years to find his voice in social justice/activism, he's founded his own school to serve the youth in his hometown, and he's shown the world the beauty of Black fatherhood.” -
Director of Intercultural Affairs Kimberlee Williams
Read More“Being Black means I am a part of a whole that is beautiful, strong, creative, and generous.”
Kimberlee Williams is the Director of Intercultural Affairs at The Bush School. Her hobbies include dancing, playing games, reading, and hanging out with her family and friends. Kimberlee’s role models are Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Maya Angelou, and Robin Roberts.
Kimberlee hopes to change the world “by bringing healing to the hurting masses. My work is that of a healer and a teacher all at the same time.” When asked what she will be remembered for, Kimberlee shared, “For some of the most beautiful choreographies to ever grace a stage and for the healing and reconciliation that I brought to all who met me.” -
Head of School Percy L. Abram
Read More“I celebrate Black History Month by reading more about our past and planning for our future.”Dr. Abram is Head of School of The Bush School. He loves running, reading, sports, and anything associated with The Bush School. His role models include El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, James Baldwin, John Coltrane and Prince. To change the world, Percy will “bend the arc toward justice.”When asked what being Black means to Percy, he shared, “It means that I have a connection to both struggle and triumph. It means that there is no obstacle insurmountable. It means that I am part of a tradition of excellence, creativity, innovation, and a fight for radical peace and love. It means that my successes are my community's. It means that I am standing on the shoulders of giants, and that I live each day with a hopefulness and responsibility.” Percy hopes to be remembered as someone who tried to love those around him. -
Neeyah F. ’26
Read MoreTo me, being Black means honoring my ancestor’s struggles and resilience. Being Black also means working hard to overcome all adversities so that I achieve my fullest potential.”Neeyah is a Seventh Grade student at The Bush School. Her favorite class is history because she "enjoys learning about different civilizations and cultures and how they thrived, and having a better understanding of the world we live in.” In her spare time, Neeyah enjoys playing volleyball, baking, reading, volunteering, and family movie and game nights.
When asked about her role models, Neeyah said, “Michelle and Barack Obama are my role models. Michelle is a strong woman who doesn’t take no for an answer. She fights for what is right and makes sure she is heard. Barack made history by pushing through the tough times and kept going when others didn’t believe in him. I aspire to cultivate these qualities and achieve great things just like they did.” Neeyah says she will help change the world by speaking up and proving that the color of our skin should not make us less worthy of our lives. She said, “The world celebrates me by recognizing that I am a unique individual with a rich history and a bright future. -
Savannah S. ’33
Read More"I will change the world by telling everyone that Black, white, and all people can like each other and be friends."
Savannah is a Kindergarten student at The Bush School. Her favorite class is Technology because “the prodigy game is fun!” Savannah shared, "My role modes are my Mommy, my Daddy, my YaYa (grandmother), and Michael Jackson." Her hobbies include playing hide and seek, tag, and gymnastics.When asked what she will be remembered for, Savannah answered, "I would like to be remembered as someone who helps people know that they can be anything they dream of." -
Upper School Director Ray Wilson
Read More“I will change the world through my work with young people. I hope to inspire them to utilize their creativity, intellectual gifts, technological skills, and desire for a just world to discover new pathways for the world to follow.”Ray Wilson is the Upper School Director of The Bush School. He shared that his favorite class in high school was math because, “My teacher was invested in my learning and found novel ways to help me understand the material. She always found a path for me to build confidence in my abilities. This experience has guided my work in schools and led me to believe that ALL children can learn, and it is through the efforts of teachers that learning can be achieved.” Ray’s hobbies include completing puzzles, listening to music, shooting hoops, and conversing with family.When asked what being Black means to Ray, he shared, “I represent a long line of human beings who were kings and queens, resilient in the face of extreme adversity, creative when resources were limited, optimistic when given slim chances, and forgiving in moments that would break others. Being Black also means that I have the opportunity to share with my three sons the gift of being a positive example to others, especially other Black youth.” Ray’s role models are “Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and anyone who dreams big and lives to make those dreams come true!”Ray hopes to be remembered for his compassion, interest in others’ experiences, and fairness.
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Immersion Programs
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Intercultural Immersion Programs
The Bush School’s Intercultural Immersion Programs are based on the belief that local and global citizenship, and intercultural fluency, are best learned experientially. Intercultural Immersion Programs help students develop the skills, confidence, and desire to engage with and participate in social, political, and cultural issues. While programs may occur within the borders of the United States or beyond, students in all of the programs will cross cultural boundaries. Students experience other cultures by forming relationships, living, studying, and working with a given local population. All programs are immersive, and some may include home stays, and/or language instruction. In addition all programs are structured around open-ended essential questions, providing curricular focus, and opportunities for critical thinking and action.
Intercultural Immersion Programs are designed to help cultivate self-awareness, leadership, humility, and the practice of being global citizens. This is done through immersing students in non-native contexts. Removing students from their native cultural context and placing them into a non-native environment initiates a more robust understanding of self.
Intercultural Immersion Programs are designed to help cultivate self-awareness, leadership, humility, and the practice of being global citizens. This is done through immersing students in non-native contexts. Removing students from their native cultural context and placing them into a non-native environment initiates a more robust understanding of self.
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