Martin Luther King Jr. Day Speaker Shares Insights on Mindfulness and Belonging

To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Belmont Hill welcomed Dr. Howard Stevenson for a series of stirring discussions on identity, belonging, and the mindfulness required to navigate moments of intense conflict. 

In addition to being the Constance Clayton Professor of Urban Education and Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, Dr. Stevenson leads the Racial Empowerment Collaborative, a center focused on racial literacy and health in schools and communities. With over three decades of experience as a clinical psychologist in under-resourced areas, Dr. Stevenson has made significant strides in promoting racial healing.  

Following a morning workshop with the Faculty, Dr. Stevenson presented to the entire Belmont Hill community during a School Meeting. Stories from his own experiences growing up in a multicultural family and his years as an educator showcased the varying ways to manage stressful moments of conflict rooted in identity. “Part of my message to you, is that we’ve got to face the things that bother us in this world, that stress us out in this world,” Dr. Stevenson said. “We’ve got  to find our voice if we’re going to heal in this process.”

Dr. Stevenson provided practical steps to take when encountering stressful conflict by calculating the intensity of one’s emotions, locating where the stress is manifesting on one’s body, communicating positive self-talk, and breathing to regain composure. Time was provided during the presentation for the community to participate in the exercise. The boys reflected on times of conflict from their own lives and examined their reactions in the moment. By sharing personal examples with those seated next to them, students identified how they would respond with these new tools at their disposal. 

For Dr. Stevenson, every person has an identity story worth acknowledging and no story is more valuable than another. He encouraged the boys to embrace theirs and speak up when needed. “What’s your story? What’s your racial story, what’s your identity story? Where’s your voice and are you willing to stand up for them?” 

This School Meeting was part of Belmont Hill's Speaker Program.