Issue link: https://trevordayschool.uberflip.com/i/1518706
Jewish and Muslim communities. (Dr. Becker-Topkara further describes her family's interfaith story in the reprinted Today.com article on page 32.) Questions and discussion closed the workshop. A student commented that educating people on the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict is key. Dr. Becker-Topkara agreed, and recommended reading different and opposing media sources and many books to understand the multiple perspectives and the conflict's long, complex history. For those who want to dive deeper into the complexities of the conflict, she hoped that this workshop would act as important groundwork and suggested attendees write down their needs for further conversations and engagement at Trevor. Mr. Dandia recommended working on the "gel" that brings people together in order to better understand opposing viewpoints and varied experiences. This gave Leo S. '24 the opportunity to promote the Palestinian Israeli Peace Advocates club at Trevor. Hayden B. '24 asked, "What can we do as young people coming into our voting rights?" Mr. Dandia responded that voting is a privilege and honor, but not the only way to assert power. He related voting to going to the dentist—although we accomplish that major task periodically, we must brush our teeth (assert our power) every day. He encouraged young people to look at their communities to identify the work that needs to be done. Investigate clubs and organizations doing this work. Start an organization. Build relationships. Visit a mosque or a temple and see what their needs are, and if they intersect. Stand together to find solutions. "We are stronger together." MIOW Day 2024 closed with three memorable closing speakers reflecting on identity. Amara S. '24 began by introducing herself as a trans woman and asked the community, "What is your brain thinking right now after I just said who I am?" Amara spoke about her experience working with young children as a trans woman,"passing" as a woman, and the opinions of those around her. "Our media and our world are so inundated with opinions about the way some individuals look, and as a trans woman, I kind of don't care… I care about getting pronouns right, I care about being a decent person, and others being decent people. Every time I see someone new, I don't spend an hour figuring out what they are." Amara closed her talk by highlighting the importance of self-love regardless of how you identify. Mahamadou D. '25 tackled the long- debated topic of nature vs. nurture through his personal experience with a childhood friend who looks just like him. If it weren't for differences in nurturing, Mahamadou recounted, he and his friend Bouya could have been living the same lives. Bouya eventually left the United States to move back to his native country because he had been deemed a "difficult child." For Mahamadou, who always saw Bouya as a kind friend, "the scariest thing about this whole story is that he and I were the same person. We were interchangeable. Two sides of the same coin. My story could have been Bouya's and Bouya's story could have been mine." The difference between the two, he firmly believes, is the act of nurturing. The final speaker was Monica Lorenzo, Director of Health, Wellness, and Physical Education and Certified Athletic Trainer, who discussed her experience developing her own identity. Ms. Lorenzo, a first-generation Cuban Italian, and "a Queens girl through and through," shared the impact her parents and her upbringing had on her drive and her independence. With her mother's passing, Ms. Lorenzo quickly and firmly decided that she did not want to be known only for weathering her mother's death. Instead, she chose to focus her energy on becoming just like her mother: tough, determined, and career-focused. We are fortunate to have such a leader in the Trevor community. With an array of eloquent speakers, thought-provoking workshops, and dedicated MIOW students and faculty leading the way, the 20th anniversary of MIOW Day was a worthy celebration of this important tradition. n Dr. Becker-Topkara '02 lays a groundwork of understanding Black Representation in Media TREVOR DAY SCHOOL / 31 INSIDE TREVOR TREVOR TRANSLATES FEATURE AR TICLES ALUMNI