News Post

Georgetown Visitation celebrated 25 years of programming for Diversity Day this week. Diversity Day is a community moment to live out the school's Philosophy of Community Culture, which states, "Georgetown Visitation believes that we are strengthened intellectually and morally when diverse voices, perspectives, and backgrounds are present. We believe God calls us actively to embrace empathy, equity, and social justice in our work to educate women of faith, vision, and purpose." The day's theme was Acting with Hope, a tie to our Visitation Salesian Network theme of Anchored in Hope. 

"I hope Visitation scholars remember that hope never disappoints," said Rachel V. Jones '08, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. "Hope wins. Hope requires innovation, creativity, tenacity, and it is founded on the notion that we can co-create a better future if we do so by being in community and solidarity with one another."

The program explored the theme of social justice in action, our call as a Catholic community. It began with hearing from the National Youth Poet Laureate, Evan Wang. He shared, "I used poetry to reflect on my history and my current relationships ... and I find strength in that." 

"Evan Wang’s poetry resonated deeply with me because it reflects the quiet complexity of inheriting a story you didn’t fully witness yourself. My grandmother immigrated to the United States, and like many families, it can be difficult to get her to share the details of her struggles," said Kana '26, who managed the Q&A with Evan on stage. "Listening to Evan talk about his work made me realize how much meaning can live in those gaps, how poetry can help us explore the parts of our heritage that aren’t always spoken out loud."

Evan told a story of discovering how poetry could be a freer form of expression than he originally thought. Previously, he considered poetry to be "pristine," like Shakespeare, but when he realized there was an opportunity to be different within the form, "I welcomed vulnerability into my poetry ... It is only when you are not holding back that the poetry becomes real and exciting for the reader."

Kana said, "What I took away most from our conversation is the importance of understanding context. We are the inheritors of our ancestors’ histories, and their experiences shape who we become. Carrying that legacy can feel daunting at times, but it’s also incredibly empowering. It reminds me that part of our responsibility is to honor those stories and continue carrying them forward."

The program then switched gears to welcome the rescheduled Black History Month assembly by the Black Women's Society. This year's educational program was inspired by Shark Tank and celebrated historic Black innovators, culminating in welcoming guest speaker Ashley Young '05, who appeared on Shark Tank for her business, Bridal Babes, and successfully earned investment from one of the Sharks. 

Ashley shared her story of entrepreneurship with students via a Q&A. When asked what she might tell her younger self, she said: "You'll come out stronger academically ... you'll be stronger professionally. You know how to look the part. You'll be stronger personally, because of the friends and the bonds you make [here]." She credits Visitation with strong communication skills, especially writing in her English classes, and context and critical thinking from her other classes, shouting out longtime art teacher Kelli Smith. 

Students then attended breakouts on storytelling as a tool for change with the United We Dream nonprofit, which "advocates for the rights and dignity of immigrants," according to its website; poetry as a form of activism with local award-winning poet Maria Fernanda who helped students explore a form of poetry called Zuihitsu; environmental justice with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network; and accessibility advocacy with disability rights activist Dr. Conchita Hernandez Legorreta.

After lunch, students chose an activity: reflection with Visitation's personal counseling team; art with Ms. Smith; yoga in the sunshine with a guest teacher, Kaya; learning salsa dancing with guest teacher Juan from Sivias; or learning empowering self-defense techniques with guest teachers from the StrongHER Initiative. 

Reflecting on 25 years of coming together for Diversity Day, Peggy Judge Hamilton '85, English Department Chair, former co-coordinator of diversity programming, and co-founder with Raynetta Jackson-Clay of the Diversity Day program, said, "It is beyond important to me and Raynetta that this tradition of Diversity Day has continued over these two and a half decades. The existence and continuation of the day on our schedule is truly grounded in the mandate of the Visitation Sisters and the foundations of our Salesian educational goals to 'respect the dignity of each person and understand the values of diversity,' 'to embrace and model the Gospel values of peace and justice in order to be catalysts for positive change,' and to foster 'an awareness of and care for the gifts of God's creating hand' (Educating the Mind and Heart). I think we're blessed to be a part of a community in which these goals not only transcend the mere political but rather uplift the means through which we can work to better Live Jesus."