30.07.2021

Racial equity is the theme of Retreat 2021

By Matheus Alves

This year, racial equity was the central theme of Retreat, an event dedicated to training our teachers and employees. The day was marked as another important step in the journey inspired by our mission, which has diversity, welcoming and solidarity as key words and which reflect Beacon’s values.

Months earlier, as a pre-event campaign, Beacon distributed three different books to all employees to arouse interest and stimulate reflection on the topic. They are: Como Me Descobrimento Negra, by Bianca Santana; Na Minha Pele, by Lázaro Ramos; Pequeno Manual Antirracista, by Djamila Ribeiro.

On the day of the event, after a special breakfast, Beacon received in the auditorium the journalist and former French consul Alexandra Loras to present her lecture on “racism and its unconscious bias”, dealing with the sense of belonging and the importance of representation.

During breaks, teachers and employees were invited to visit the exhibition in the Campus’s central aisle. On one side, large black icons were presented, some recognized for their talents and others for their importance to society and in the struggle for civil rights. On the other side, anonymous testimonies written by employees who have already suffered or witnessed some situation of racism were exhibited.

To respect safety protocols during the pandemic period, employees were divided into groups, so that only half of them participated in lectures in the auditorium, while the other watched them virtually in the classrooms, ensuring adequate distance during the lectures and activities.

The division was also used to separate the participants by the book they received, participating in other lectures and discussions about the books given before the event. It is important to highlight that the choice was random, ensuring greater variety among the groups, encouraging integration among employees from different areas.

Mediated by specialists, reflections and discussions about the books were instigated. Afterwards, there was an exchange of experiences and sensitization with the life stories of the author Bianca Santana. In the second stage, Eliane Cavalleiro, who used to work as coordinator of Diversity at the Ministry of Education, turned her gaze to the school and the students. At the end, employees met with their groups to propose future solutions.

At the end, a big surprise. In honor of the extraordinary work by the Pedagogical Director and founding partner, Vera Giusti, during the years she dedicated herself to Beacon, the Campus’s central library was renamed to the Professora Vera Giusti Library. The naming ceremony was an emotional moment for our community and another milestone in the school’s history.

The involvement of the entire community demonstrates that it is possible to transform a microcosm into an anti-racist environment. This gives us strength and courage to train sensitive and conscientious students, who are also responsible for being agents of change in society.