Insight: Celebrating Our Diversity Through Culture Night (and Beyond)

By Sam Uzwack, Head of School

Eastside Prep recently hosted our fifth annual Culture Night, an event proudly organized by the Allies for Equity Club to honor the rich diversity of our community. As Cass Megiddo, co-head of Allies for Equity said, “Culture Night [invites us] to bring a little bit of home to school,” a reflection of key aspects of who we each are to share with our community. This year’s event featured booths representing cultural heritage from Ethiopia to Southern Louisiana, from Puerto Rico to South Korea, among others. By celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our community, we recognize that our differences are not divisions, but the very threads that weave us together.

Culture Night is a joyful reminder that our vibrant diversity makes Eastside Prep a stronger community. But diversity alone does not create belonging or safety. Indeed, belonging requires an ongoing commitment to inclusion—to listening to and learning from one another in the spirit of empathetic dialogue. To valuing each of us as part of our Eastside Prep community. I am proud to be part of a school that values diverse perspectives, fosters open dialogue, and embraces differences with kindness and respect. This spirit of inclusivity was on full display throughout Culture Night as students, families, and faculty eagerly engaged with one another—asking questions, sharing experiences, and celebrating the cultures that shape our community.

By embracing and learning from each other, we create an environment where every individual feels valued and heard. While recent executive orders have raised concerns for many, particularly for members of our community who are immigrants or LGBTQ+, Eastside Prep remains unwavering in our support of all students and their families. Whether we are directly impacted by these executive orders or not, we are a kind and caring community able to support those around us.