“The power of hope.” This is the message that guest speaker Aubrey Noronha brought to Trinity College School January 12th to 13th, as he presented and led workshops for Grade 9 to 12 students. As the leaders of the future, students were reminded of the power they have to learn, to grow and to make the world a better place.
Mr. Noronha spoke on the theme of anti-racism and how it is important that communities more actively engaged in the work of equity and inclusion; it is not enough to just not be racist, we must be actively anti-racist. After discussing definitions of racism and their historical context, he provided students with an opportunity to engage with uncomfortable conversations, within a safe and supportive atmosphere, for the sake of understanding ways we can all better support our fellow humans. His message of hope is founded in embracing empathy and acting with what he calls “radical humility,” admitting when we make mistakes, acknowledging areas where we need to grow, and continuing to learn.
A prolific speaker and workshop facilitator, Mr. Noronha is no stranger to TCS audiences, having presented to our Junior School students and staff last spring. He brings a wealth of experiences to his presentations, having worked as a crisis negotiator in the criminal justice system and as a critical incident stress management facilitator for people impacted by trauma, including terrorism.
Mr. Noronha’s presentation is part of ongoing work at the School on anti-racism, a key strategic priority at TCS. We look forward to following up with students about next steps in their learning, as they seek to answer Mr. Noronha’s call to greater understanding and empathy.
