(photo by Max Zafranco, ‘18)

Loyola High School recently held a youth summit on Oct. 6 for students from throughout Los Angeles to share stories about race and gender, with the goal of creating more understanding of each other and the world. The summit, which was conceived by Loyola High School’s Director of Equity and Inclusion Jamal Adams (pictured), ‘80, was held in collaboration with Marlborough School and Immaculate Heart High School. Students from Loyola, Marlborough and Immaculate Heart joined peers from St. Joseph’s High School, St. Mary’s Academy, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Bishop Contaty- Our Lady of Loretto High School, Bishop Mora Salesian High School, St. John Bosco High School and Crespi Carmelite High School for the event.

The inaugural summit was titled “That’s Not Me: Words Matter Youth Summit-A Day of Dialogue and Reflection on the Power of Words on Race and Gender.” The students explored empathy through storytelling and having each student symbolically walk in each other’s shoes. Student delegates shared stories and assumed each other’s identity, presenting the adopted persona to the group. By “becoming” someone else, their empathy increased. The goal was to foster empathy by reflecting on personal experiences and privileges, as well as to explore ways to teach communities about them.

Loyola High School is located at 1901 Venice Blvd. For information, visit loyolahs.edu.