Beloved Community RVA

On January 17, Steward welcomed Middle and Upper School students to Beloved Community RVA, an afternoon conference. The conference, which honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a community that fosters positive change and genuine relationships, was coordinated by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator Tiffany Goodman and Humanities Teacher and Upper School DEI Liaison Trevor Smith.

A Civil Rights Icon
To kick off the conference, keynote speaker Joan Trumpauer Mulholland discussed her experiences as a Civil Rights activist. 

Ms. Mulholland, a recipient of the 2015 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, was one of the Freedom Riders arrested in Jackson, Mississippi in 1961 and participated in over 50 sit-ins and demonstrations by the time she was 23 years old. Over the years, she crossed paths with some of the biggest names in the Civil Rights movement, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, John Lewis, Diane Nash, and Julian Bond.

Ms. Mulholland’s son, Loki Mulholland, an Emmy-winning filmmaker, author, podcaster, and activist, joined her onstage. His documentary, “The Uncomfortable Truth,” offers an insightful exploration of the origins and history of racism in America.

Ms. Goodman welcomed students, staff, faculty, and parents to the keynote, which was held in the Lora M. Robins Theatre. Fifth-grade teacher Ron Coles introduced the speakers, who led the audience through a history lesson that was thought-provoking and deeply personal. The Mulhollands, seated onstage, shared video clips from Ms. Mulholland’s life as an activist and offered insight into the details of the Civil Rights movement and the groundbreaking sit-ins that took shape in the 1950s and ’60s.

“I was blessed or cursed with excessive determination,” said Ms. Mulholland of her steadfast desire to participate in the Civil Rights movement, even when she was in great danger. She was arrested many times for participating in sit-ins and at various points in her life was disowned by her family, shot at, and put on death row. 

Betsy Morris ’31 said she was “so starstruck” by seeing Ms. Mulholland in person. “She was 18 when she made a real difference,” said Betsy. “I think it would be cool if I, too, could make a difference. Her story means the world to me.”  

“Something that stuck with me was Ms. Mulholland’s unwavering commitment to equality and justice despite the personal risk she faced as a young white woman standing alongside Black activists and facing the dissent of her family, neighbors, and friends,” said Jaeda Cranford ’26. “She remained devoted to the cause. Her story encompasses the importance of resilience and courage in the face of adversity. Hearing about the ways she pushed through fear both psychologically and physically was extremely inspiring. I also love how her son acknowledged how activism builds generational identity and reinforces the idea that everybody has a responsibility to fight for justice.”

Chatting with his mother onstage, Mr. Mulholland asked her questions, at times teasing her good-naturedly about her life as an activist, mother, and champion for change. Noting his mother’s diminutive stature (“She’s five feet tall …maybe”), he said emphatically, “It’s not how big you are. It’s the size of your heart that matters.” 

A talk-back with students followed the Mulhollands’ keynote, during which faculty participants met with the co-chairs of the Diversity & Inclusion Council, Dr. Yaa Agyekum (director, Center for the Advancement of Learning, and assistant director of Lower School) and Elizabeth Simpson (Upper School academic dean), to discuss some of the insights they garnered from the recent National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color conference. Dr. Agyekum and Ms. Simpson shared their thoughts on the self-work and communal work integral to becoming a better ally to others, sharing that the work is “ultimately rooted in love.” Students then broke into student-led workshops, and faculty met with Ms. Mulholland. 

Lastly, students gathered in affinity spaces, led by students, where they discussed topics including What are some ways to honor other cultures and people, and how can we as a community grow in cultural competence and acceptance? 

Student-led symposia are part of Steward’s strategic plan, Compass 2028. Ms. Goodman said, “Watching their peers explore their passions through leading workshops and engaging with a national hero allowed conference participants to dream of the impact they, too, can have in and beyond their communities.”

Jaeda attended the African American affinity group discussion.

“It was enlightening and allowed for everyone to actively engage and learn firsthand how Ms. Mulholland defied the odds to fight for Civil Rights as a young white woman,” recalled Jaeda. She added, “Affinity spaces are essential for creating a safe and inclusive environment to connect over shared experiences. The space felt very free; we could express ourselves without the fear of being marginalized or judged. Affinity spaces offer a sense of security where we can discuss difficult topics, broaden our perspectives, and maneuver the complexities of identity and race.”

Laurel Kauffman ’30 said that affinity spaces are important for students “so that they can talk about things in a more comfortable space and be able to relate to the people around them.” Her biggest takeaway from the Mulhollands’ presentation was that “you should keep going even when it’s hard and you should always have a plan when trying to make change.” Laurel also interviewed the Mulhollands for an upcoming article in the Middle School newspaper. Reflecting on Ms. Mulholland’s place in history, she added, “Seeing someone who took part in making so much change made me wonder what I could do for current-day activism as a young person.”

This was Steward’s third-annual Beloved Community RVA event. In 2023, Steward held a Beloved Community RVA Conference for Middle and Upper School students from Richmond-area independent schools. In 2024, Steward offered a series of two Beloved Community RVA student-led workshops focused on gender and sexuality and racial and ethnic identities. 

“As our students grow in this ever-changing and complicated world, we want them to have the skills to think critically, lead empathetically, and prioritize community,” said Ms. Goodman. She added, “Ordinary people can do extraordinary things with a bit of courage and knowledge, and we hope Steward can be a launching place! Ms. Mulholland was the same age as many of our seniors when she realized that her actions mattered, and she became a Freedom Rider and a change-maker. Perhaps today some of our students realized that they can also elicit change."