AUTHOR JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS SPEAKS AT SACRED HEART SCHOOLS
‘Sophie’s Scholars Presents’ launches annual speaker series
Author of New York Times bestseller How to Raise an Adult & Real American: A Memoir Julie Lythcott-Haims gave a talk yesterday evening at Sacred Heart Schools (SHS) as the first guest in a new annual “Sophie’s Scholars Presents” speaker series, which aims to amplify speakers with a social message.
Lythcott-Haims led a conversation in front of a large audience in Harman Auditorium on “being Black and biracial in a country where Black lives were never meant to matter,” her experiences as a student of color in predominantly white spaces, and her insights on how communities can contribute to a more just society for all children.
During the question and answer portion of the evening, an audience member asked Lythcott-Haims whether she has hope for dismantling bias and racism. She replied, “[If we could] offer strangers the dignity, love, and respect we want back… we would change the existence of humans on this planet. We would become kinder, we would become compassionate. And I have hope, because I think we’re capable.”
Sophie’s Scholars is an SHS program that recruits and prepares high-achieving young students from local under-resourced communities for eventual entry into Sacred Heart Preparatory (SHP). Given academic support and close mentorship by SHP faculty throughout their middle school years elsewhere, Sophie’s Scholars then matriculate into SHP at the ninth grade.
“This annual speaker event will help grow awareness around the Sophie’s Scholars program, promote important conversations about social justice, and provide our community with opportunities to engage with important thinkers across various fields and academia,” said Dr. James Everitt, SHS director of mission initiatives & institutional planning.
After graduating from SHP, 94 percent of Sophie’s Scholars graduate from a four-year college in four years. “These young people are amazing contributors, and bring important experience to our communities,” said Everitt.
Click here for more information about the Sophie’s Scholars program.
Where Scholarship and Values Matter
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12