RE Log - Fall 2021

22 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2021 Giving Back What inspired you to work in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion? WG: As a country, we have witnessed tremendous strides, and I have great pride for this country. However, the distribution of wealth and health remains lopsided. Lifestyles will likely never be equal, but those differ- ences should be based upon differences in skill, effort, determination and commitment, not race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or national origin. I believe there is innate goodness in mankind; we must continue to nurture that goodness. VB: When I left litigation to become an educator, I made a promise that I would commit my research to improving the academic outcomes of Black children. That’s impossible without understanding the critical role DEI plays in fostering a nurturing educational experience. My inspiration for this work has always been the same, equipping each child with the resources needed to reap all of the benefits from a loving, accepting and exacting education. What career achievement are you most proud of? WG: Maneuvering the politics of being appointed by the governor to the county bench at 38 years old and defending that seat in a county-wide election approximately 20 years later. VB: This role as DEI Consultant has been one of my most proud career achievements. The opportunity is unique and exciting and allows me a level of creativity that makes this moment in time exceptional. Who was your most influential teacher/adult at RE? WG: Michael Stokes was the most influential. Mike chaired the history department. He taught me world history in ninth grade and economics in 12th grade. Over the years, he coached me in JV soccer, varsity football, Two alumni ramp up RE’s DEI effort Wendell Graham ’74 returned to his high school alma mater as the new Director of Inclusion and Community Engagement on July 1, 2021, as Victoria Beatty ’00 signed on as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant to Ransom Everglades. Graham, the first Black male student at Ransom Everglades, has been a member of the Florida Bar for 38 years and served for 24 years as a County Judge for the State of Florida. He has spent his career working with Miami’s diverse population to balance the social, cultural and political dynamics of the community while seeking equitable outcomes. Beatty is a tenure-track law professor at Barry University School of Law who worked in litigation at the largest law firms in Florida until shift- ing her career to education in 2014. She founded the Martin Luther King Elementary School Mentorship Program and was the first Black recipient of the Cushman School Alumni of the Year award. Both are members of the Ransom Everglades Anti-Racism Task Force, with Beatty as a co-chair, and contributed to the task force’s final report, which is available on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page of the school’s website. “We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Judge Graham back to our campus and bring Ms. Beatty more fully into our daily DEI efforts,” Head of School Penny Townsend said in June. “They will bring extraordinary talent, experience and energy to one of our school’s highest institutional priorities and will continue to help ensure all members of our community feel included and heard. ” Photos by Suzanne Kores