All divisions at D-E came together the week of Jan. 20 to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Students enrolled in D-E 360°’s AfterCare & Enrichment (ACE) program learned about values inspired by Dr. King, such as practicing kindness, giving back to the community, valuing inclusion, taking action for good, collaborating with others, working toward social justice, and being compassionate.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is more people who have come alive”
As an act of service, ACE students wrote letters of gratitude throughout the week to U.S. service men and women, veterans, first responders in Los Angeles in light of the recent fires, and caretakers as part of Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit based in California.
In addition, the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, respectively, held assemblies dedicated to honoring MLK. The Lower School kicked off their assembly in the LS gym on Wednesday, Jan. 22, by sharing what they learned from the book Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds, which teachers read with their classes in preparation for the event.
Simone Henry Agblonon, Assistant Director of DEIB, led the conversation about how the book’s theme represents what Dr. King did when he spoke up during the Civil Rights Movement and how laws changed as a result of the collective action he spurred.
Representatives from each grade then shared what they did to make the world a bit better. Our youngest students shared things like using kind words, giving someone a hug, and helping a friend clean up a mess. Older LS students shared real experiences when they were upstanders, such as when they stood up for someone being bullied. One fifth grader recounted how MLK once said, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
The Middle School MLK assembly, held in Schenck Auditorium the morning of Thursday, Jan. 23, featured student speakers as well, a video on MLK, and a solo performance by jazz violinist Kersten Stevens, who has collaborated with Grammy-winning artists and performed for Barack Obama, Ray Charles, Denzel Washington, and other notables.
This presentation was followed by the Upper School’s assembly in Schenck, where Ms. Stevens returned to the stage to perform Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster,” in honor of Dr. King’s love of jazz, as well as Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free.”
Students also heard from local artist Philip Smallwood, whose painting “A Life of Service” was on display. The work celebrates the life and contributions of Bergen County resident Dr. Theodora Lacey, a friend of Dr. King and a Civil Rights activist in her own right.
Mr. Smallwood was asked about his work and inspiration by Art Teacher Ms. Rachel Brusky as well as Mara Gualtieri-Horowitz ’26 and Sydney Adekanbi ’25. The artist revealed that he only began painting at age 38. “I’ve been training for this my entire life,” he said. “This is my rightful destiny… I was born an artist.”
Advocates of Mr. Smallwood’s work have organized a Change.org petition to have his portrait of Dr. Lacey–which the artist said took him no less than 400 hours to complete–placed in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
“The inspiration for this [assembly] is a quote from Howard Thurman, who is credited with saying, ‘Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is more people who have come alive,’” said Dr. Marcus Ingram, Director of DEIB. “I invite you to consider what makes you come alive.”
Parting words came from Mr. Smallwood, who took the mic to tell the students in the room that “Everybody possesses greatness… I believe in you.”
