Shaping Belonging, One Conversation at a Time

Empowering students to lead with empathy and purpose

At The Governor’s Academy, we know that students play a vital role in shaping the culture of our school. One powerful example of this is our Community Facilitators program—a group of tenth through twelfth graders who use the positive power of peer influence to promote respect and civility in our school and beyond.

Community Facilitators (CFs) are extensively trained student leaders who facilitate conversations among their peers on a wide range of social justice topics that impact our community. They learn how to create safe and brave spaces, how to respond to moments of tension with empathy, and how to support their peers in thinking critically about identity, equity, and community. Through thoughtful dialogue, event planning, and inclusive programming, they help ensure that Govs remains a place where every voice is valued and everyone feels a sense of belonging.

This year, they organized a powerful all-school convocation on media and unconscious bias, featuring student-led workshops on topics like racial bias in news coverage and the role of media in driving social change. These sessions sparked meaningful school-wide reflection and helped students and adults alike recognize the subtle ways bias can be reinforced in everyday life. In a separate convocation, CFs collaborated with faculty to explore The Governor’s Academy’s complex history—from the Indigenous tribes who first lived on this land to the evolving experiences of students of color and first-generation students across generations. Building on that experience, the CFs hosted a series of follow-up community conversations. These moments weren’t just informative—they were transformative, modeling how student voices can deepen learning and foster meaningful connection across our campus.

Throughout the year, Community Facilitators organize events that bring people together: a dorm conversation about current events, a celebration for a cultural holiday, and a dialogue during a school-wide program. Their presence is felt not just during the school day, but also in the evenings and across residential life. These efforts create meaningful moments of connection between students and adults alike, and they help build a more inclusive, thoughtful, and compassionate school community.

At Govs, we believe in the leadership potential of our students—and we trust them to help guide and grow our community. We value open and respectful dialogue.

We are proud of our Community Facilitators and grateful for the way they lead—not with loud voices or easy answers, but with thoughtfulness, humility, and a deep commitment to making Govs a place where all feel welcome.

Author: Michelle de la Guardia, Dean of Multicultural Education