Latin School of Chicago

30 L AT I N M A G A Z I N E Kate Lorber-Crittenden Upper School English Eleannor Maajid '97 Librarian and Middle/Upper School Advocate for Students of Color Jeffrey Windus Upper School English and Freshman Dean Jannah Tate Middle School Justice and Equity Intern Lorber-Crittenden helps to lead the Future Latin Leaders of Our World (FLLOW) initiative, which challenges third and fourth graders to be leaders in promoting tolerance. "We tend to think that these discussions are too serious or too heavy for young children. e reality is that they see and understand it pretty well. ey know what it feels like to be left out." Providing language, structure and a space for these discussions will help these students navigate more complex situations as they get older, she says. "My daughter calls me Mama Bear when she sees me with students, and that is kind of how I see myself." Maajid offers an open door and a sympathetic ear. She strives to be a support system, to make sure that her students are 'okay' academically, socially and emotionally. "As an alum of color at Latin, I understand their struggles, their challenges, their success – I understand what it's like to be in their shoes. is is what makes my job so rewarding, and so personal." Windus says his role as a faculty member in the Gay and Sexual Minority affinity group is to offer support. "It is important for students to see faculty members whom they know and love actively there, actively listening." Beyond that, he says he has as much to learn from students as they do from him. "e heroes are the kids who feel able to come out in ninth grade, and their parents who are supporting them. Even though society has changed, it is still not easy." "Students often struggle with ideology. By middle school, they know what they are supposed to think and say, but they don't necessarily understand why. For example, they recognize gender to be something you 'feel about yourself,' but when prompted, cannot differentiate gender from sex. Similarly, they are fuzzy on the difference between race and ethnicity. My work is in facilitating conversations that allow students to parse these topics and develop a more meaningful understanding in the process."

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