Culture and Community Day

Hopkins celebrated Culture and Community Day on Friday, October 12, a day to recognize the diverse backgrounds of our community and to celebrate a united effort to hear and understand each other.

The Hopkins community comes from 80 different nations:
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, the Cherokee Nation, Chile, China, the Choctaw Nation, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nigeria, Northern Cyprus, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Thomas, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, and the former Yugoslavia.

Members of the Hopkins Student Diversity Board relaunched the Real Talk Series, which aims to promote self expression and empowerment in the Hopkins community. The community is encouraged to share any type of performance, spoken, poetry, song, dance, visual art to share their story throughout the coming school year.

Melody Parker offered a self portrait that represents her multi-racial and multi-cultural background. “The color blocking in black and in white represent the two distinct parts of my identity: my mom is white and Jewish, and my dad is Jamaican.” See Melody's piece in the photos to the right.

Livy Burdo ’21 spoke about her family's experience in grappling with the cancer diagnosis of her older brother, Alex Burdo ’15 in a talk titled, “Light in the Shadows.”

Mr. Thom Peters shared a poem, “The Wedding Toast,” which he wrote for his sister-in-law's same-sex marriage from the point of view of an Episcopal Christian.

Sara Amar ’19 shared an essay about her experience and identity as Indian.

Lizabeth Bamgboye ’20 recited a powerful original poem, “The Africa You Know.”

Erin Ellbogen ’19, Fi Schroth-Douma ’19 and Isabel Vlahakis ’19 sang a song of healing, titled “Avila” by the Wailin’ Jennys.


The students closed the assembly with a challenge: “We challenge you today, and always, to listen, to question your perspective, and to actively empathize. And we challenge you, when you have something to say, to speak out.”

Thank you to all the speakers, presenters and organizers from the student and faculty community, as well as the Office of Equity and Community.
Back
    • Voted #1
      Best Day School
      in CT, 2024

Hopkins is a private middle school and high school for grades 7-12. Located on a campus overlooking New Haven, CT, the School takes pride in its intellectually curious students as well as its dedicated faculty and staff.