In advance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the MHS community took time January 10 to honor Dr. King’s legacy and learn more about his vision for a Beloved Community, “in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth.”

Diversity Coalition co-Heads Leora Cook-Dubin ’24 and Welmerly Maria ’24 and DivCo member Fiona Lu ’26 opened the session, which is a collaboration between the MHS DE&I and Horizons departments. The students began with an introduction to Dr. King’s vision, then outlined barriers to achieving that vision, defined by Dr. King as the “Triple Evils” of poverty, racism, and militarism/violence.

The presentations set the stage for the day’s keynote speaker, Rhonda Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Sustained Dialogue Institute, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that helps transform conflict via sustained dialogue. Ms. Fitzgerald was introduced by MHS Dean of Equity and Inclusion Paula Lima Jones who noted the importance of engaging in dialogue, especially in today’s fractured communities.

“Given the complexities of our world, the ability to speak truthfully, authentically, and empathetically is a valuable skill,” Ms. Lima Jones noted. “There is so much growth that comes from sitting down and really being able to hear someone’s story.”

Ms. Fitzgerald’s remarks addressed the central question of how to manage polarized divides. She stressed the importance of dialogue, which requires genuine interaction, with each party listening enough to the other to be changed by what they learn and each party making an effort to consider the other’s views, whether they agree or not.

There are, Ms. Fitzgerald noted, nine skills essential for true dialogue — consensus-building, diplomacy, emotional regulation, sharing the conversation, understanding group dynamics, having outlets for deeper emotions, community organizing, active listening, facilitating relationships. Alternatives to dialogue include debate, avoidance, and disengagement, none of which contribute to bridging communities.

She also shared thoughts on having authentic conversations while maintaining relationships, and on the importance of simply gathering as a way to facilitate dialogue. She pointed out that often absent today are the non-politicized third spaces and civic groups that provide opportunities for gathering and conversation.

“If we don’t know how to gather, period, how are we going to gather in a beloved community?” she asked.

Following Ms. Fitzgerald’s address, students and adults then attended one of six workshops, several of which were hosted by MHS Horizons partners. The opportunities:

• Asking Questions to Build Open Spaces for Authentic Conversations — This interactive session allowed for optional practice in small and large groups on how to create conversations that go farther than debates.

• Pittsfield DE&I — Michael Obasohan, Director of Pittsfield’s DE&I Department, and DE&I Department Ambassadors Anita Akor and Heather Brazeau shared the story of Pittsfield’s DE&I Department and led a session in which participants responded to questions revealing commonalities and differences among them.

• Democracy and the Role of Prominent African American Leaders — Dr. Chris Himes, Director of Engineering and Technology Innovation/STEAM Coordinator at MHS, convened a workshop on the role of African American leaders such as Dr. King and W.E.B. DuBois in the development of policies and laws that gave marginalized populations the right to vote.

• Healthy Relationships — Sam Elliot ’19 and Zoe Moore-Renner led an interactive session on strengthening relationships, with opportunities to practice self-regulation and healthy conversation.

• WMLA — Kris Rutman, Operations Manager with Western Mass Labor Action, accompanied by WMLA volunteers and members, shed light on what it’s like to be the working poor and/or a recent immigrant trying to establish themselves economically in Berkshire County.

• Berkshire Pride — Representatives from the Berkshire Pride Center led an interactive discussion about Trans Rights, Gender Inclusivity, and ways to get involved.

It was a powerful day!