Cultural Awareness Committee (CAC)
Meeting Minutes – October 7, 2014
Present: Sandra Greenstone, Erika Choberka, Kelly Hammill, Chris Seguin,
Jessica Lieberman, Margo Lowenstein, Moira Payne, Maribel Rosas, Peggy
Wilson,

First meeting of academic year started at 9:00 with overview of
agenda and the new year’s focus on greater cultural awareness for
school, including AWSNA/ISACS accreditation recommendations
which were presented.

Open forum go-around brought forward perspectives on the year
ahead from each member. Perspectives cited included, but were
not limited to:
o formalizing the Cultutural Awareness Committee more, with
increased parent and faculty involvement in soliciting
agenda items, taking minutes and commitment of members
who can attend most meeting through the year;
o having a balanced, culturally inclusive Winter Concert
program and inviting venue for our school Community;
o fostering racial, ethnic respect and awareness in curricula,
lessons and classes;
o how to include students, parents and faculty in organized
forums, discussions or events in order to have a more inclusive
emotionally safe and culturally aware Community;
o looking at the dynamics of difference that come with the
geographic diversity of a student body that resides across the
Southeast Michigan region, from Ann Arbor to Brighton,
Detroit, Dexter, Lansing, Farmington, Canton and beyond;
o increasing awareness about the effects of oppression in the
larger world and meeting the challenges of increased
cultural awareness and respect across the school
Community;
o Across the School’s learning contexts and communications;
including regular, conscious address of the variety of family
configurations possible today, with sensitivity to LGBT parents,

Religious Holiday Calendar was distributed, alignment to a wide
cross section of holidays and expansions were explained.

Accreditation recommendations for more integrated involvement
of the CAC were reviewed. Regular involvement of College faculty
members from the Lower and High Schools is core to meeting
recommendations as their leadership and focused perspectives
touch all school activity across constituencies. Erica Choberka and
Margot Amrine are Faculty Representatives for the year.

New Cultural Diversity Festival Review Form was distributed,
explained and discussed. Will be made available for parent
feedback after festival events. Includes questions about culture
scope and perceptions of appropriateness of event.

Bringing back the U of M diversity program that came last year was
proposed, with interest in this occurring with more School
Community involvement in a planned way that ensures as much
participation as possible.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10.
Next meeting Tuesday, November 4 at 8:45 A.M.
Respectfully submitted by Chris Seguin