Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Antiracism Archives

October 10, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

“Makhoche kin de dakhota thamakhoche.” (Maw-ko-chay keen day dah-ko-tah tah-mah-ko-chay) This is the land of the friendly people, the Dakota.

You may be noticing the school calendar over the next week or so is a bit wonky. This is true for several different reasons, including parent-teacher conferences and the long-standing tradition of taking “MEA days” as a fall break. This year, we are also commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 14.

As we recognize Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, we have a unique opportunity to reflect on the profound impact that Native cultures, histories, and contributions have had—and continue to have—on our country. This day calls on us to honor the rich heritage of Indigenous peoples while also acknowledging the struggles they have faced throughout history.

Mounds Park Academy acknowledges the language and history of the Wahpekute and the larger Očhéthi Šakówin nation and its connection to these cultures through the land on which the school resides. Mounds Park Academy acknowledges that our school rests on Dakota homeland and that Indigenous Peoples have the longest relationship to this land. Read More

2024 Alumni Award Presented to Judge Christa Moseng ‘96

June 10, 2024

Judge Christa Moseng ’96 has been an Administrative Law Judge for Minnesota since 2021 and is the immediate-past chair of MNclusive, an LGBTQIA+ resource group for state employees. She graduated with her B.A. from Grinnell College and her J.D. with Distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law. While in law school, she was a senior managing editor of the Journal of Gender, Race, and Justice. Judge Moseng has nearly a decade of experience in public utility matters and rulemaking. She is known for her technical expertise, deep commitment to public service, excellence in legal writing, and commitment to inclusion and equity, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community.

While not leading the effort, she participated by offering legislative testimony about the legal implications of the trans refuge bill that passed in 2023. During hearings, Judge Moseng shared: “What brings us here today is a concerted effort, in other states, to deny human rights that Minnesotans take for granted—rights like the right to have a family, access medically necessary health care, and to have children with a minimum of government interference. If there’s one thing that I know that a public official can safely say, it’s that Minnesota is not Florida, or Texas, or Oklahoma, or Utah. We do not threaten to pull families apart. We do not erase trans people from public life and accommodations… Senate File 63 would protect children, families, and caregivers in Minnesota from extraterritorial laws and orders that could interfere with the right to receive gender-affirming healthcare in Minnesota… It would substantively strengthen Minnesota’s position as a human rights leader in the United States.”

Please take time to learn more about Judge Moseng and her work via the Q&A below:

Please describe your life’s work (personal and professional) today. What are you most proud of?

I try to make room for trans people to be comfortable as ourselves. I’ve done that by fostering an online community where trans and gender-questioning people can safely share joys, challenges, and information; writing and distributing a practical guide for overcoming wrongful insurance-claim denials; helping craft state-employee policy changes; and working extensively with other community members and allies. I relish anytime a trans person finds life or transitioning easier, fairer, or less stressful because of something I worked on or did.

Together, We Moved Mountains

April 24, 2024

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the MPA 2024 Spring Auction: Together We Can Move Mountains a resounding success. Because of our community’s generosity, we raised $362,194, including $198,969 for this year’s Fund A Need, The Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning. These donations are an amazing jump start on our overall project need.

Perhaps most importantly, the auction built upon the connections within our community and celebrated all that we have accomplished so far this year. Thank you to our speakers, donors, sponsors, attendees, and volunteers. We couldn’t have done it without each one of you.

Congratulations to our auction item winners, including Tom and Cari Simonson—this year’s Golden Ticket winners!

To learn more about the auction, The Center for Inclusive Teaching & Learning, or to make a gift, please contact Jennifer Rogers-Petitt, director of development and community engagement, at jrogers@moundsparkacademy.org. To see all of the photos from the evening, click here.

A Tremendous Success

April 17, 2024

Last Thursday, the Parents Association hosted Cultural Celebration Day, an evening celebrating the diversity of backgrounds at MPA with food, music, dance and community. Some of the highlights of the event were beautiful dance performances by MPA parents and students, colorfully decorated tables set up by the hosts sharing their culture and cuisine, the ever-popular henna artist, Bilkis and Boba tea vendor, Treats. It was wonderful to experience the energy and engagement from community members. We hope to see you all next year!

A big thank you to all who helped make this event a success:

Cultural Celebration Planning Committe: Fatima Khan, Erika Beernink, Mitun Gupta, Tenia Kalogeropoulou, Reema Anwar, Seema Anwar and senior, Soumya Raman

Cultural booth hosts: Moira Duverneau-Salifu and Ishmael Salifu, Jingtao Wang, Nouf Gazdar, Abdullah Hejazi, Than Zaw, Maw Maw Win, Rudy Karam, Catrin Magnusson, Evelyn Johnson, Maria Jose Johnson, Jessica Blue, Marisue Gleason, Cedar Meem, Kari and Jeffrey Kunze-Hoeg, Samah Fahmy, Mark Segal, Chanda Williams, Tara Lafferty, Mitun Gupta, Srilakshmi Sastry, Fatima Khan, Reema Anwar, Fabiola Grubhofer

MPA Staff: Cherie Honan, Lamar Shingles, Jennifer Le Varge, Natalie Waters Seum and Michael Pappas – Communications, Roy Timm and Tom Connors – Facilities Department, and Chris Pula – Sage Dining Services Read More

Global Responsibility: A Pathway to a Connected Future

April 11, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Over spring break, I traveled to South Korea and China to meet with parents, students, teachers, and educators in both countries. The trip’s purpose was to further enhance our school’s commitment to global responsibility and awareness. I first traveled to South Korea with Cory Becker-Kim, MPA’s international student program coordinator, to establish a stronger presence in the Korean educational marketplace and introduce MPA to interested students and parents. Our goal there was to showcase the unique approach to education that defines MPA: a holistic, experiential, liberal arts education that nurtures the whole child.

In China, I had the privilege of visiting eight schools and one university and met with a number of school leaders and educational officials. Throughout my visit, I enjoyed engaging in profound discussions about the future of education and the importance of global citizenship. I was struck by the genuine interest in our educational approach, particularly our focus on fostering global responsibility and citizenship.

Global responsibility is a key anchor of our school’s mission statement. It is also part of the first priority of 2024ward, our strategic plan: “Empowering students to live, learn, and thrive in today’s complex, global society.” This commitment is rooted in our belief that we must prepare our students for the world that awaits them—a world that demands global thinking, effective communication, and responsible contributions.

Join Us For Cultural Celebration Day at MPA!

March 28, 2024

Enjoy an evening of food, music, and crafts from around the world by attending Cultural Celebration Day at MPA! The MPA Parents Association invites you to partake in the event that highlights the many different backgrounds present in our school. Cultural Celebration Day is set to take place on April 11, from 3-6 PM in the Family Commons.

Enjoy sweet and savory street food from around the world and an international tea bar.
Experience beautiful music and interactive folk and classical dance performances.
Engage with community members sharing their cultural heritage.

Other offerings include going home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, trying your hand at global crafts such as Greek laurel wreath making or Rangoli, and learning how to use chopsticks.

Also available will be a food demonstration, an opportunity to learn the steps of Sirtaki, a Greek folk dance, and Kathak, an Indian classical dance! Chatting with community members with booths set up to share their culture and or offer samples of their cuisine is strongly encouraged!

Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. Please email sanwarPA@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions regarding Cultural Celebration Day at MPA!

Ten Things To Consider When Choosing A Private School

March 19, 2024

The arrival of spring brings a new season to all private schools all around the country–admission season! Here at MPA, decisions are released on March 29 and the enrollment deadline quickly follows on April 12. This means families are currently facing a decision, and sometimes that decision can be difficult. So with the help of our community, we collected a list of ten things families should consider when deciding on a private school.

1. Your Community
When choosing a school, you’re not looking for a community just for your children, but for yourself and your entire family.

The MPA community is robust, and each and every child is known and valued. We are built upon shared values and firmly committed to freethinking, collaboration, diversity, and connection. “We love the connectedness, the openness of the community, and the personal attention for our children,” said MPA Middle School parent Isaac McBrrom. “It seems the school really knows them as individuals.”

He also noted how the strength of the MPA community is rooted in character development, one of the fundamental aspects in our educational philosophy and in the curriculum, PreK-12. “The world does not run on math and science alone. Understanding world issues, and how to connect to others with empathy and understanding will hopefully lead to a more fulfilling life,” he reflected.

2. The Pedagogy
MPA’s highly rigorous education does not challenge top students by piling on busywork, nor does it take away support and individual attention from a teacher, but rather by promoting and instilling a deep understanding of what they are learning. We deeply value purposeful academic rigor in a hands-on, experiential, college-prep environment.

Upper School parent KiJuan Ware is elated to see his daughter enjoying this type of learning environment at school, finding the balance of academics and extracurriculars, and constantly trying new things. “The Makerspace is where she is hands-on, doing what she wants to free her mind,” he said. “There’s a lot of discovery when it comes to learning, and homework reinforces comprehension.” Read More

Meet International Student Ella Li ’24

March 11, 2024

Ella Li has been at MPA since eighth grade. She is from China and is currently living with an MPA host family. Learn more about our international student program and becoming a host family here!

What do you love about MPA?
I love the various curriculums at MPA. I can take different humanities courses, like world history, Western literature, US history, etc. From these courses, I have been able to learn about many interesting cultures and read high-quality literature works from the US. Also, I can access different levels of math classes, like algebra, statistics, and calculus, which inspired my curiosity to explore more knowledge. MPA’s science courses, such as physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science, are wonderful. Additionally, I like watercolor drawing, painting, and photography. At MPA, I have opportunities to take various art courses, such as art and design. All of these courses enrich my life at MPA.

How is your experience at MPA different than your former school?
At MPA, I have a closer relationship with each teacher and classmates. During class, I have a lot of group discussions and projects with my classmates. We could share many exciting ideas and help each other. After class, I am also very willing to discuss questions with my teachers. They always give me detailed explanations, enabling me to understand the content I learned clearly. In my former school, I spent most of my time preparing for standard tests, rarely had opportunities to discuss questions with teachers, and participated in after-class activities. Read More

A Sacred Space Inside: The Power of Positive Affirmations

February 22, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Editor’s Note: Periodically, you will find a guest Head’s Message here from members of the administrative team. We hope you will enjoy reading their thoughts and reflections about life at MPA.

I recently came across, on Instagram of all places, a video clip from an episode of Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday” featuring the great Dr. Maya Angelou. Dr. Angelou, a female Black American poet and civil rights activist, has inspired millions through her writings and teachings. In this conversation, Dr. Angelou recalled advice she gave to her son when he was growing up:

“He said, ‘I don’t have any friends. How can I get some friends?’ I told him two things. First, in order to get a friend, you must be a friend. And second, there is a place in you that you must keep inviolate. You must keep it pristine, clean, so that nobody has the right to curse you or treat you badly. Say no, when it’s no … Because that place must remain clean, clear.”

As the message sank in and I sat there on my couch, in my pajamas on a Saturday morning, this teaching reminded me of the words of my grandfather. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, my abuelo was a commanding figure in our family. I used to love sitting around the big mahogany table at the tail end of family dinners when the grownups would start drinking coffee and the cousins scattered off to play—this is when the juicy family drama would come out! Sometimes, the grownups would reminisce about the old days, and I often heard renditions of my mother’s great escape from South Bend, Indiana in the late 1950s. At that time, my grandfather returned from serving in the US Navy during the Korean War and was attending Notre Dame University as an engineering student. My mother and uncle were young children in elementary school, and my grandmother worked as a seamstress. One day, they came home and found that slur words for Hispanic people had been painted on the side of their bungalow house. Fearing worse was to come, my grandmother packed up my uncle and mother and escaped on the first train out of South Bend, leaving my grandfather to finish his engineering degree alone. It was years before the family was properly reunited. Read More

Meet International Student Alum Wei Zhan ’22

February 6, 2024

What are you currently doing, professionally and/or personally? What experiences or relationships have inspired you along the way?
I went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and am now attending Santa Monica College. Engaging with a diverse and talented group of individuals fueled my passion along the way.

How was your experience at MPA different than other schools?
MPA has an inclusive and open atmosphere, embracing individuals from all backgrounds and creating a welcoming environment for everyone. Read More