What do all those letters mean? Do you or does someone you know identify as LGBTQ? Are you an ally to the community? Come to this workshop to learn about relationships and family dynamics in the LGBTQ community. You will hear personal accounts, ask questions, and have an opportunity to share your experience and seek support. Find out how YOU can have a positive impact and where YOU fit in among the letters. All are welcome!

Where is home? We will explore the immigrant experience through the personal stories of immigrants to the United States and establishing their lives in a new country. This workshop is designed to support discussion and exploration of the complex issues facing immigrants, as influenced by history, policy, and social factors. Topics discussed will include assimilation, culture shock, identity, gender, different values, and language barrier between generations. We will look at the commonalities and differences among immigrant transitions to life in the U.S. and their experiences in the U.S. compared to their American-born children. We will use this examination to reflect on students' and their families' own beliefs and experiences, sharing our hopes, fears, and views on immigration and what it means to be an American.

In this workshop we will explore what it means when we call people “white” in America. Not only will we discuss what it currently means, but we will also explore who was considered white historically and how that has changed. We’ll touch on issues of white guilt, white privilege, and white-washing. We will also discuss what we, as white people, can do to use our privilege as allies to other groups.

Our world is constantly changing, and so are families. Life events such as divorce, death, and remarriage can impact our lives in multiple ways. Some of these impacts are positive while others are challenging, and describing the experience to others may be difficult. In this workshop, we will be open about what it means to be part of a family going through change, as well as what it is like to have step-parents, step-siblings, half siblings, and/or single parents.

“For thousands of years we told stories from one generation to the next, but what good are old stories if the wisdom they contained is not shared?” With a partner you will play the video game, Never Alone, and explore the culture and values of an ancient people still alive today, the Iñupiat, a tribe native to northern Alaska. Participate in an Iñupiat story as you help Nuna and an arctic fox on their quest to find out the source of intense blizzards that are threatening the survival of her village.

Explore the importance of popular folktales, legends, and true stories of different cultures. What makes stories so powerful and how do they keep someone’s heritage alive? Do cultures that are seemingly very different share common values? What are the origins of some of the stories we think are American?

Larry Goldberg, one of the lead producers of Never Alone, will facilitate this workshop and share the behind-the-scenes of creating this game and teach it to the students.

Through video footage, social media feeds, and dialogue, this workshop will explore the origins of current social movements including Fight For 15, Alt-Right, Occupy Wall Street, and Black Lives Matter. This workshop will also address perceptions of movements and media coverage that depicts protesters as "whiners" and "rioters.” If you are interested in finding your personal cause, this is the workshop for you.

In this interactive workshop, students will understand the reality of socio-economic differences through an immersive game. The group will be divided up into three different groups and experience the buying power of each particular group as they attempt to take care of their “egg baby.”

Mental illness is often misunderstood, and there are many myths that people have trouble distinguishing from facts. Are mentally ill people dangerous? Does mental illness make you more creative? How do you help someone who has a mental illness?

Come hear some BWS faculty tell their personal stories about mental illness, and learn how to combat some of the misunderstandings around mental illness. You'll have a chance to ask the questions you've always wondered about, and learn more about the mentally ill people in your community.

Since the introduction of advertising many centuries ago, women have been objectified, and sometimes even insulted or degraded to sell a product. How many times have you wondered what product a particular ad is trying to advertise? Logically, there is no relation between an exposed woman and a car. Trust the creativity of advertisers to incorporate a scantily clad woman into their commercial.

Open to a limited number of 8th graders.

The journey of LGBT athletes for acceptance, fairness, justice, and equal opportunity has been, and continues to be, a slow one. Like other civil rights causes, societal progress requires a collective effort. In this case, it has to be a partnership between professional player organizations, team owners, professional leagues and teams, gay and straight athletes, and fans. Come hear the personal stories of three outstanding athletes and role models who now live their lives authentically.

“People may hate you for being different and not living by society’s standards but deep down, they wish they had the courage to do the same.” – Author Unknown

Presenters

Angela Hucles is the founder and CEO of Empowerment Through Sport. Ms. Hucles is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for US Soccer, two-time World Cup Bronze Medalist, former professional soccer player for the Boston Breakers, and the US Soccer Foundation’s 2009 Humanitarian of the Year.

With a passion for helping others achieve their goals and dreams and over 25 years’ experience in the sports industry, she founded Empowerment Through Sport, LLC in 2012, an organization focused on discovering sports leadership skills and athlete transitions that translate to life success. Ms. Hucles has become a regular speaker on topics of sports leadership, equality, inclusion and safe spaces, anti-bullying, and the power of sport and its impact on personal growth and development. She currently serves as the Women's Sports Foundation President, founded by Billie Jean King.

U.S. Women’s National Team leading scorer in the 2008 Olympic Games, Ms. Hucles played her inaugural season of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) for the Boston Breakers. She stepped into the soccer scene for USA in 2002 and started in 48 of her 109 career caps—ranking 24th on the all-time U.S. caps list.

Chris Mosier is an athlete, coach, and educator, and the founder of TransAthlete.com. In 2015, he became the first openly trans man to make a Men's US National Team. Following the national championship race, Mr. Mosier was instrumental in getting the International Olympic Committee policy on transgender athletes changed, and in June 2016 he became the first trans athlete to compete in a world championship race under the new rules, where he was the second fastest American man in his group. Mr. Mosier is a two-time member of Team USA, representing the United States in the short course and long course duathlon, which is a run/bike/run event.

He is also a nationally recognized three-time Ironman triathlete, and inductee into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. He was featured in a Nike commercial which aired during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Mr. Mosier has been featured in publications including ESPN The Magazine, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, and Esquire, and has written about his experiences for publications including The Advocate, the Pride Network, OutSports, and Compete Magazine.

Mr. Mosier was a silver medalist in triathlon at the 2014 Gay Games. He has been named to The Advocate Magazine's 40 Under 40, the Trans 100 list, the GOOD 100 list, and is featured in the 2016 Out 100 list. He is a Nike sponsored athlete.

For much of his life, Robbie Rogers lived in paralyzing fear that sharing his big secret would cost him both his family’s love and his hard-won career as a professional soccer player. He could be a pro athlete. Or he could be an out gay man. He couldn’t do both. Then at twenty-five, after nearly stepping away from a brilliant career—one that included competing in the Olympics, playing for Leeds United, and winning the MLS Cup—Mr. Rogers chose to finally tell the truth. But instead of the rejection that he had feared for so long, he was embraced—by his family, by his teammates, and by his fans. His new memoir, Coming Out to Play, shares his remarkable story and inspires readers to embrace their true selves and not let anything get in the way of the life they have imagined.

In addition to his roles with the Galaxy and Halsey, Mr. Rogers is also a cofounder of and ambassador for the Beyond “it” campaign, a non-profit organization fighting stereotypes.

In his lectures, he takes audiences on his incredible journey from a terrified teenager to a trailblazing out-and-proud pro soccer player for LA Galaxy, who has embraced his new identity as a role model for those still struggling with the secrets that keep them from fully living their dreams.

Book signing to follow.

Open to a limited number of 8th graders.

The United States is a country of immigrants that have come to pursue the promised “American Dream” of new opportunities. Because of this, our country has become one of the most diverse countries in the world, where people seek brighter futures for both themselves and their loved ones. Some come with little to nothing other than the clothes on their backs and full of determination to get ahead. One of the things that is never lost in the process of acculturation is their cultural identities—the customs, traditions, and beliefs that are the channels that keep their connection to their home countries thriving even after years of living in the United States.

These immigrants’ rich, varied cultural identities have created the diversity that is now integral to life in the United States, resulting in many new experiences for members of our society as well as very real challenges that are surfacing more openly today. Due to this we have seen a growing trend toward multiculturalism, and terms like “melting pot” are being replaced with new metaphors, such as a “salad bowl” or a “mosaic”—a mixture of various individuals who keep their unique characteristics while helping to transform our country into a truly multicultural society.

Come hear five students, the first generation in their families to have been born in the United States, share their families’ immigration experiences, and the struggle between the culture they are immersed in at Brentwood and their personal family culture at home. They will also discuss their experiences of being placed “in a box” or labeled because of their name, appearance, or cultural identity.

Moderators

Mr. Rob Jost, Human Development and Counseling, Upper School
Ms. Maggie Lara, Library Assistant, East Campus

Open to a limited number of 8th graders.

Come hear the inspirational and personal stories of two "differently-abled" individuals.

Presenters

Nick Ekbatani is a Los Angeles based speaker, personal trainer, athlete, and advocate for equality. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mr. Ekbatani found solace and sanctuary during his troubled childhood in athletics, primarily football. After finishing his football career as a two-year starter for the UCLA Bruins, he developed his own fitness philosophy and concept, losing over 100 lbs. in the process.

In 2012, Mr. Ekbatani was involved in a catastrophic motorcycle accident which nearly claimed his life and ultimately caused the amputation of his left leg below the knee. More than a dozen surgeries and countless setbacks have only served to strengthen him along his journey. Gifted with perspective and an undying passion for his “second chance” at life, he aims to serve by inspiring people to live their best lives uninhibited by fear and self-limiting beliefs.

Mr. Ekbatani is a recent MBA graduate of the Marshall School of Business at USC, and you can catch him leading highly energizing and inspiring group fitness classes at various studios in Los Angeles, primarily on the westside.

Mia Schaikewitz is an inspirational speaker and inclusion advocate. At age 15, she was a rising star on her high school swim team and training for a new season when suddenly one evening she found herself unable to move her legs. Within 12 hours, doctors discovered that an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) had ruptured in her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. With resilient determination and a positive attitude, Ms. S. moved forward to pursue her life goals. She finished high school and then attended the University of Florida where she thrived academically as well as socially, becoming the first woman in a wheelchair there to rush and join a sorority.

After graduating with a degree in Media Production, Ms. S. moved to Los Angeles where she successfully built careers in sound design and then graphic design and branding. In 2012, she became one of the stars of the critically acclaimed show Push Girls on Sundance Channel. During its second season, the show won the Critic’s Choice Award for “best reality Series” and continues to successfully debunk negative misconceptions about living with a disability, inspiring audiences worldwide. Ms. S. has made many media appearances, among them CNN, Good Morning America, and Ellen.

In addition to her design and media endeavors, she educates and speaks publicly to promote women’s empowerment and diversity inclusion in the media, workplace, and athletics. After a 17-year hiatus from competitive swimming, Ms. S. returned to the sport and participates in multiple adaptive sports organizations to encourage independence and rehabilitation for people with physical challenges. Her latest passion project is centered on developing Infinite Flow, America’s first wheelchair ballroom dance company.