Excerpt from "Overcoming In Uncertain Times: The Light We Carry" by Michelle Obama, pages 238-239
"Here's a story to consider: About twenty years ago, executives at NBC decided to adapt a popular British sitcom for American television. The network hired a group of eight writers to begin working on the scripts. The group included only two people of color, one of whom, perhaps uncoincidentally, happened to be the only woman as well. She was twenty-four years old. It was her first TV writing job. and she was petrified. Not only was she a double minority, but she was wrestling with an extra layer of self-consciousness, having been brought in through a relatively new diversity initiative at NBC. She worried that as a diversity hire, she was being viewed less as a talent and more as someone whose presence was meant simply to check a certain box.
'For a long time, I was really embarrassed about it,' this writer later told an interviewer. 'No one said anything to me about it, but they all knew. And I was acutely aware of that.' She likened the feeling to wearing a scarlet letter, something that kept her on the outside.
Her name was Mindy Kaling. The show was The Office. She ended up spending eight seasons as one of its stars. She also wrote twenty-two of its episodes, more than any other writer on the show, and became the first woman of color ever to be nominated for a comedy-writing Emmy Award.
Kaling now speaks often and proudly about having been a diversity hire, saying that it's a meaningful part of her story and important for others to know what it took for her to get to where she is professionally. It's not something to keep in the vault. She was able to drop her self-consciousness and shove off the doubts, she says, once she started to better understand the advantages her colleagues had arrived with in the first place, the connections that came through the familiarity...
She endured the discomfort of being an 'only,' drilled down on the work, and through it was able to make more space for others coming up behind her, creating room for more storytellers, and more stories. She literally wrote her way into visibility. Kaling has since, of course, become a powerhouse in her field, creating, producing, writing, and staring in multiple tv shows and movies, nearly all of which feature the stories of women of color. With her work, she's widened the sphere of belonging."
Celebrating Our Amazing 6th Grade Social Worker, Ms. Robinson!
This week, we proudly celebrate Social Worker Appreciation Week, and we want to take a moment to recognize our incredible 6th-grade social worker. She is truly a beacon of compassion, empathy, patience, and kindness in our school community.
Her unwavering commitment to the well-being of all students and families shines through in everything she does. She is deeply invested in ensuring every student feels supported and valued, going above and beyond to connect with district resources and community partners. Her goal is always to make sure students have the services and support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
We are so fortunate to have her on our team. Her tireless dedication and unmatched commitment to our school make a significant difference every day. Please join us in showing gratitude and appreciation for her hard work and the positive impact she makes in the lives of our students and families.
