Edina Seniors Expand Racial, Cultural Awareness for May Term

While their journey as students at has come to an end, the journey of awareness of race and culture continues for seniors JJ Barry and Adriana Olivares.

Barry and Olivares are part of Dare 2 Be Real (D2BR), a racial equity student leadership group at EHS. When it came time to figure out their May Term Project, they decided on two separate parts two parts: planning for the following year D2BR group, but also on an individual level, "growing in self awareness and growth in the area of race and culture."

"D2BR as a group in EHS is relatively brand new, so we are still trying to find ways to improve and expand," Olivares said. "JJ and I felt that coming up with a plan for next year’s group would really be helpful for next year’s group. We were also curious about what the middle and elementary schools were doing to bring about awareness of race and culture to their schools."

Olivares said the most memorable part for her was returning to her former elmentary and middle school to see how much it had changed in terms of diversity and efforts from the staff "to bring about awareness and equity."

Barry and Olivares visited and interviewed administration and teachers, attended a leadership meeting with the multicultural group at  and performed some research to brainstorm ideas for next year.

The D2BR students hope that by being able to sharing their own experiences and stories about racism and seeing how it impacts both individuals around them and themselves, they can initiate conversations throughout not only their own schools but also the community.

"D2BR ... is a safe place to talk about the uncomfortable topic of race," Olivares said. "I also get the chance to connect and talk to students from groups that I would probably not have the chance to speak to. D2BR has taught me how to deal with uncomfortable or disrespectful comments that are made. My awareness of race and culture has definitely expanded."

Barry will be attending the University of Minnesota and Olivares will be attending Florida International University this fall.

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