Unity Week is a valued tradition at Guilderland High School, bringing the school community together each year to build meaningful connections and engage in thoughtful conversations around a central theme. This year’s theme, “Building Bridges,” emphasized understanding, collaboration and inclusivity. To explore this theme and promote dialogue that transcends differences, the Student Voice Subcommittee organized a student-led breakfast on the final day of Unity Week.
Aspiring for a day focused on community, the Student Voice Committee planned the breakfast to coincide with the school’s annual Anti-Hate Rally on May 22. According to member Dylan Mabee, “We wanted to tie in and make one impactful day.”
To prepare, the subcommittee invited faculty to nominate students from all four grade levels who they felt would be strong facilitators and engaged participants. Ultimately, 25 students were selected and took part in the breakfast, each contributing in their respective roles. With food generously donated by Market32 Mohawk Commons, the breakfast became a comfortable and welcoming space for honest conversation.
The event began with a compelling keynote speech from Dr. Tibisay Hernandez, who was also the host of this year’s STOP Conference in January 2025 at Siena College, in addition to being a frequent speaker on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. Sharing stories about her upbringing in the Bronx, Dr. Hernandez spoke about the power of perseverance, self-expression and connection. “She didn’t grow up with the environment that we have at this school,” Dylan said. “And it kind of forced us to cherish what we have—it promoted the idea that we should all push to do more as a society to create a community.”
Dr. Hernandez also spoke about her dream of traveling the world and giving keynote speeches that highlight the power of connection and empathy, emphasizing the importance of being open with others. “She said you have to be comfortable with somebody and laugh and have fun before you can actually spread the real message of an event,” Dylan recalled.
After Dr. Hernandez’s speech, students broke out into small groups to share their thoughts on the event’s themes, collaborate with one another and discuss how inclusivity plays an important role in building a stronger community. As part of these conversations, they reviewed key terms used to identify and assess issues within the GHS community, along with their impact:
- Microaggression: a subtle, often unintentional, action or comment that targets someone based on race, gender, ability, religion, or other identity.
- Microassault: direct insult
- Microinsult: backhanded comment
- Microinvalidation: dismissing experiences
- Unconscious bias: stereotypes or assumptions we don’t even realize we’re making, often learned from media, family, or culture.
Using these definitions as a foundation, students shared real-life examples of microaggressions and microassaults they had observed—both within the school and in society—and discussed how these behaviors affect relationships and community dynamics. They also reflected on their personal experiences and brainstormed ways to address bias, proposing changes and initiatives to help make GHS a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
“What I think was interesting about their discussions is that they were solution-oriented,” said Derek Westbrook, Director of Diversion, Equity and Inclusion. “By the end, they were actively talking about how they could come together to create real change in their community.”
Following the event, participants were sent a Google form where they shared their thoughts and ideas for moving forward. Suggestions included hosting more Mental Health Week initiatives, increasing access to DEI-related events and organizing an ice-cream social to further build community. “When we’re forced into proximity, we find a way to find community among each other,” Dylan explained. “So when we have a community that builds the bridges we’re talking about—it forces change.
This event emphasized the importance of coming together to openly discuss the challenges facing the GHS community and explore ways to improve the school environment. Students actively shared their experiences and ideas, demonstrating a real commitment to making GHS a more welcoming and inclusive place. Through thoughtful conversations and plans for future events, the breakfast laid the groundwork for positive change and marked an important step toward fostering a stronger sense of community at GHS.