Cultivating Cultural Competency Together

Exploring diverse narratives to enhance empathy and cultural awareness

Fostering a campus community where students of all races, ethnicities, and nationalities feel seen and valued is an ongoing commitment for educators at The Governor’s Academy. This year, our focus on cultural competency centers around these important identities. A critical way we engaged with this theme was through our summer enrichment program, allowing our faculty and staff to choose from diverse books, podcasts, and videos that tackle different facets of race, ethnicity, and nationality.

While every academic department discussed Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond—an essential read for cultivating inclusive teaching practices that resonate with all students—faculty and staff had the chance to select an additional thought-provoking book aligned with our cultural competency theme. These titles were chosen to inspire reflection and dialogue, helping the adult members of the Govs community better understand the experiences of marginalized communities. Here’s why these titles were impactful:

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism
by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar
This book takes a unique and humorous approach to racism, recounting outrageous but true stories of everyday experiences. The blend of humor and harsh realities creates a poignant reading experience, helping readers confront uncomfortable truths in a way that invites empathy and self-reflection. Faculty and staff gained insight into how pervasive and often absurd racial microaggressions can be and how they impact individuals daily.

Hijab Butch Blues
by Lamya H
Lamya H offers a personal story about navigating race, gender, and religion. As a queer Muslim, she reflects on her identity and the struggle to reconcile her faith with her sexual orientation. Adults who chose this book engaged with the complexities of intersectionality, broadening their understanding of how overlapping identities shape individual experiences.

Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School
by Kendra James
In this memoir, Kendra James recounts her experiences as one of the first Black students to graduate from a prestigious boarding school. Her story explores privilege, race, and the isolation of being a minority in elite academic settings. For faculty and staff at The Governor’s Academy, this book offered essential insights into the challenges students of color may face, prompting reflection on how we can create a more welcoming space for all.

Little Soldiers
by Lenora Chu
This exploration of the Chinese education system through an American mother’s lens sheds light on cultural differences in teaching and learning. Chu contrasts the collective values emphasized in China with the individualism championed in the United States. Faculty and staff gained a greater appreciation for how cultural backgrounds influence educational experiences, helping them understand the diversity within our student body.

So You Want to Talk About Race
by Ijeoma Oluo
Oluo’s straightforward guide offers practical advice on navigating difficult conversations about race. Adults found it especially useful in preparing to engage in meaningful dialogue about race with students and colleagues, furthering their role as advocates for an inclusive campus community.

The Impact of Summer Reading on Our Campus
By allowing faculty and staff to choose from various resources, we foster personal growth and reflection that resonate with individual experiences. This choice ensures our discussions around race, ethnicity, and nationality are nuanced and multifaceted, as diverse perspectives enrich our dialogue.

Summer reading is more than an intellectual exercise—it’s an enrichment opportunity for all adults in our community to deepen their commitment to creating an environment where every student feels they belong. Whether exploring racism through humor or diving into memoirs, these resources equip our community members with the empathy and cultural awareness needed to connect meaningfully with students.
 

Author: Michelle de la Guardia, Dean of Multicultural Education