Lila P./Staff
For over two decades, Academy has hosted one of its most impactful programs for faculty and staff: the National Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity Project (SEED). Though not widely known among students, SEED has played a significant role in building community, fostering empathy, and encouraging deep reflection within our school community.
Initiated by former Middle School science teacher, Mary Eve Corrigan, 25 years ago, SEED has thrived ever since. In 2018, Ms. Nzimiro assumed the leadership of CA’s SEED and described the experience as transformative. “We create a brave space, not just a safe space,” she said. “It’s a place where we talk honestly about our personal experiences. Not just what’s happening in the world, but what’s happened to us.”
Through journaling, storytelling, group discussions, videos, and reading materials, participants examine both the differences and common ground between their own lives and those of others in the group. While SEED centers on self-reflection and storytelling to allow participants “to learn about the world from each other’s stories,” says Nzimiro ,“[It is] not really based on what’s happening in the world or with other people, but what directly happened to us as individuals.”
Over time, the group becomes very close. “We’ve formed this tight, trusting group of people,” she said. “It ends up being this really safe space to where I feel like I can trust these people when I can say things that I’m scared to say, or things that I’m ashamed to say . . . and they won’t judge me in the same way that other people might.”
All SEED facilitators go through an intensive week-long training, living and learning with other educators from across the country. Nzimiro describes the experience as “24/7,” with constant discussion and reflection which equips them to guide challenging conversations with empathy, helping participants navigate emotional or uncomfortable topics in a supportive way.
Nzimiro noted that facilitators grow along with participants. “Just because we facilitate doesn’t mean that we know everything at all,” she said. They help ourselves through, too.”
Academy also offers a parent SEED group, currently led by Joyce Simpson, a former Academy parent. Both groups use the SEED model but tailor it to their communities.
Perhaps the most important takeaway is growth. “I think differently about everything,” says, Nzimiro, “really starting to think what made that happen? And how has that changed who I am today? And how have I evolved from that?”
SEED meets monthly. All faculty and staff are welcome to join when the group starts in the fall.
