After the Bell students embrace their heritage at Brookside Elementary School

To mark the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, Brookside’s After the Bell program held a lively celebration that encouraged Carver students to explore their ethnic backgrounds.

Brookside Elementary School is situated in the Flax Hill neighborhood of Norwalk, a quick 10 minute drive from the Carver Community Center. Signs with the message, “Be kind at Brookside,” are scattered throughout the lawn and building. True to those words, when I arrived at Brookside and explained I was a Carver employee, I was warmly welcomed and led to the cafeteria, where Carver’s after-school program, After the Bell, was convened.

The cafeteria at Brookside was buzzing with excitement. Children were gathered around tables, adjusting the focal points of the afternoon: paper smocks they had created and decorated with flags of the countries their families came from.

I snapped a photo of one of the girls, her bright smile exposing missing baby teeth. Afterwards, I asked which countries the flags on her smock represented. “Honduras,” she said, pointing to a blue and white flag with blue stars, “and Costa Rica,” she explained as she pointed to the other.

Groups of students lined up to show off their unique creations. The countries represented included Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Italy, and the United States - serving as a reminder of the diversity among both Hispanic Americans and the students in Carver’s programs.

At the end of the festivities, students gathered around two piñatas they had crafted out of cardboard and paper-mâché. Laughter filled the gymnasium as each child eagerly took a swing, delighted by the promise of candy. When the piñatas were finally ripped apart, spilling out their sweet treats, the candy was gathered up and put into Ziploc bags for the students to take home. Everyone went home with a bag - demonstrating equity in action.

Carver’s commitment

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of Carver’s work. Established over 80 years ago as a community center to support black adolescents, Carver has always worked to provide equitable access to opportunity so children and youth can realize their fullest potential. We have since expanded our reach to ensure all students are benefiting from our work, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and native language. Carver is dedicated to fostering a positive, empowering learning environment in which all students experience a sense of respect, belonging, and worth. The Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at Brookside highlights that commitment.

Carver is grateful to Brookside’s After the Bell employees for their ingenuity and incredible support of Carver kids. Many thanks to Ms. Monica Cervantes, Ms. Andralee Davidson-Hunter, Ms. Fawnia Hennegan, Mr. Joe Lombardo, and Mr. Colin Page.