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THE ALLEYNIAN 710
Celebrating who we are
THIS YEAR’S IDENTITY AWARENESS MONTH FOCUSED ON HOW WE RELATE TO THE PLACES AND SPACES AROUND US, SAYS NATHALIE WHITTINGTON
DC IAM got off to a vibrant start. This was the third year of the event, which was initially conceived of as an opportunity to share, celebrate and acknowledge both the individuals and the community that make up the College. While last year’s focus during lockdown was on community and on staying connected, this year the idea was to explore how physical spaces and places contribute to our identity, sense of self, recognition, and belonging. Eleven huge colourful banners bearing a range of inspiring words were hung at various locations across the campus, while bright, thought- provoking window displays shared quotations from Michael Ondaatje OA, Elif Shafak and Jason Collins, capturing some of the themes of the month. In the collaborative ‘Stitch for Life’ project, pupils and staff took up their needles to create handcrafted ‘labels’ sharing reflections of the self, which were then displayed alongside the banners. The I AM Library welcomed a number of speakers. Borrowing from the Human Library idea, it aimed to give an insight into the lived experiences of others, allowing us to empathise with lives beyond our own. We were delighted to welcome Jeremy Bowen, Brian Green from the Dulwich Society, and Zooey Gleaves OA. In another highlight, we were privileged to watch performances of Hannah Kumari’s play ENG- ER-LAND , which tells the story of a mixed-race teenager who shares with the audience her love of football, whilst also experiencing acts of prejudice carried out against her. Students
also attended Hannah’s workshops, which gave them another valuable opportunity to connect with the themes of belonging, community and identity, central to the month’s explorations. The month also encompassed LGBTQ+ History Month, and we celebrated the power of creative writing as a way to explore personal identity through the ‘Invite to Write’ project. Students throughout the school contributed heartfelt, funny and challenging poems about queer identities, love and self-expression. In addition to a Pop-up Library event and several Society talks celebrating the figures and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, we saw pupils and staff proudly wearing rainbow laces during sporting events, while the Progress Pride flag was seen flying over the College. The month’s events prompted questions, reflections and resolutions which we hope will continue throughout the year, in all of the different places and spaces of the College of which we are all members.
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