The Hindley PTO’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee launched the school’s first ever Heritage Celebration on Tuesday May 24th 2022. The smiling faces, laughter and full bellies of delicious treats from around the country and the globe indicate this will not be the last. The free event offered an open-ended invitation for families to showcase aspects of their “heritage”. With room for interpretation, tables sprung forth representing various countries and cultures around the world, but so too emerged tables sharing regional pride, family histories of love and values, presidential family legends, religious celebrations and local Darien lore. Principal Snowden’s table showcased the history of Hindley School, which celebrates its 75th year in 2023, and featured newspaper clippings of the school’s ribbon cutting and long-forgotten photos of traditions such as the “battle of the books”. One mom even found yearbook pictures of her own fourth grade class when she herself was a Hindley student. With a nod to Tokeneke’s Passport Night, students moved from table-to-table with a program to collect fun facts and stamps. While many things could be said to be on display, perhaps the most notable was the pride families exuded being able to show up authentically and be welcomed for their differences. One parent noted “you have created the space for us to show up as we are, who we are.” It was a beautiful endorsement that curiosity and learning is where lessons of acceptance, tolerance, and inclusion begin – and that this community is eager to do so – perhaps best over dumplings, Eton Mess, and Cincinnati chili dogs.
For more information or to get involved in next year’s celebration, contact hindleydei@gmail.com.
