Every year, EGR strives to not only commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. but to continue his legacy today at the high school. This year, Jordan Harper, a social studies teacher, as well as Katie Michell and Thomas Kawel, led an initiative to take students to hear from speakers at Grand Valley State University on MLK day as well as lead additional opportunities for students during Black History Month.
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, 20 students as well as Harper, Michell, and Kawel left for Grand Valley for the day’s activities. Harper had previously attended the event while teaching at Jenison High School and was excited to bring the opportunity to EGR.
“Last year, the previous district I was at took students [to Grand Valley]. It was a great experience, and this year coming to East Grand Rapids we gave that opportunity to students again to hear a nationally known keynote speaker,” Harper said.
Students were able to hear from Melissa Harris-Perry, a nationally recognized professor and political commentator with a focus on African American politics. Harris-Perry is also an award-winning author, sought-after public speaker, and accomplished media professional. She hosted the television show “Melissa Harris-Perry” on weekend mornings on MSNBC for four years and was awarded the Hillman Prize for broadcast journalism. She has served as editor-at-large at Elle.com and for ZORA and continues to serve as a contributing editor for The Nation.
“It was a good opportunity for our students to hear [Perry] and digest questions,” Harper said.
One especially notable aspect for Harper was hearing students get up and ask questions during a Q and A that took place during the event.
“One of the things that was enlightening was during the Q and A session, as one of our students got up and asked a question in front of about 250 people, so that was pretty cool to see one of our East Grand Rapids students do that,” Harper said.
This year, the question posed for students to think and reflect on was “Is Dr. King’s message still relevant today?” and EGR students had the opportunity to discuss this question before and after hearing the speakers.
“Afterwards we had a debrief and discussed the topic of [Dr. King’s] work is relevant today and how students can lead that work and relevance in our buildings,” Harper said
Not only are students being given opportunities to go and hear and reflect on MLK’s legacy, but are being offered additional opportunities during Black History Month.
“We are currently getting approval to go to the Grand Rapids African American Museum in February, where the director is going to give us a guided tour of the museum,” Harper said.
Additionally, Harper, Michell, and Kaval are also leading an initiative to bring a Black History Month exhibit to the high school.
“During February we are going to have a Black History Month museum exhibit here at the high school in the learning commons where teachers and other people in our school community can go down and learn about everything regarding Black History Month,” Harper said.
Harper hopes that by taking these initiatives and exposing students to other demographics, they will be better equipped for life after high school and better prepared for the real world.
“Representation matters,” Harper said, “and in a district like East Grand Rapids, our demographics are what they are, and to expose our student body to other demographics is so important.”
To support these goals, Harper leads the “Elevating Voices” club started by students to “bring people together and celebrate cultural differences.”
“They are going to have to interact with people who don’t look like them, so the more we can learn and prepare and the more skills they have regarding accepting other people’s opinions, the better equipped they will be to handle the real world,” Harper said.
