On March 4, Marymount High School hosted BRIDGE Day, an event dedicated to building a stronger, more inclusive community through education, dialogue, and service. BRIDGE stands for Building Respect, Inclusivity, Diversity, Growth, and Equity.
The event brought together students, faculty, parents, and alumnae for a full day of programming focused on cultural understanding and community engagement. The day began with opening remarks in the Pavilion, including a prayer, a land acknowledgment, and student reflections.
Following the opening remarks, students attended a keynote presentation by John Gentile, an educator and leader in diversity and inclusion. Gentile currently serves as the Assistant Head of School for Community Engagement and Belonging at Oakwood School in Los Angeles and has long been involved in national diversity leadership initiatives. His talk encouraged students to think critically about their roles in creating equitable communities and emphasized that meaningful change begins with honest conversations and empathy.
One of the most anticipated parts of the day was the Food Fair, where students and members of the Marymount community shared dishes representing a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Each dish was accompanied by a fun fact about its origin, and participants completed a crossword puzzle based on these facts before receiving tickets to sample the food.
After lunch, students rotated through three different activities: Thought Talks, identity workshops, and service projects.
In the Thought Talks, speakers shared personal stories about their experiences as members or allies of marginalized communities. These conversations allowed students to hear firsthand perspectives about identity, discrimination, and allyship, followed by opportunities to ask questions and engage in open discussion.
The identity workshops focused on helping students reflect on the many aspects of who they are. Through guided activities, students considered how factors such as race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, and age shape their experiences and perspectives.
Students also participated in service projects that connected the day’s conversations to action. Projects included initiatives to create items for community members and to support groups such as veterans and seniors.
Events like BRIDGE Day are especially important in high schools because they provide a structured space for students to explore identity and diversity during a formative time in their lives. In a world that is increasingly interconnected, learning how to listen, empathize, and engage with people from different backgrounds is a crucial skill.