On the day before the Inauguration, Nerinx Hall students, faculty, and staff took to the EAC for the annual Peace and Justice and Diversity Assembly. Due to rising racial tensions across the United States, especially in St. Louis, this year’s assembly focused on race relations and diversity within this Loretto Community. The assembly began with a quick introduction from Brianna Chandler, Peace and Justice President, and Emma Wulf, Diversity Club President. Their introduction was followed by a video of unique Nerinx girls sharing their opinions on racism, privilege and diversity. The video was impactful, receiving attentive looks and applause from the audience.

After the video, the audience was briefed on privilege and how to recognize privilege within their own lives. This briefing led into a live privilege walk, which involved students of different sizes, skin tones, sexualities, and backgrounds. Privilege walks are activities used to symbolize varying levels of privilege within society. The Peace and Justice and Diversity Club speakers encouraged the audience to answer along in their heads with the questions read aloud to the privilege walkers. This visual portrayal allowed everyone to realize where they fell on the spectrum of privilege.

Once the privilege demonstration was finished, Nerinx welcomed two very accomplished activists to speak on a panel discussing race relations. Ms. Danielle Harrison and Professor Gregory S. Carr were asked questions regarding current race issues affecting communities today. Major topics included the falsehood of reverse racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, and racism in St. Louis. Prof. Carr and Ms. Harrison shared  their wisdom with Nerinx, broadening many students’ and faculties’ views on diversity and why it’s necessary. To close the assembly, the Nerinx Hall community was welcomed to take a pledge to promote diversity, fight injustice, and work for peace.This assembly encompassed the message of seeking diversity in all aspects of life, and it helped to spur discussion within the Nerinx community.