More about Cynthia Roberson - Looking through the Lens of DEI

Sidney Martin (G8)

Published Issue 1 2021-2022

Topical

On Friday, September 17, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the new Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity at Mulgrave, Ms. Cynthia Roberson. I interviewed Ms. Roberson in her office which is located in the administrative office area (right next to Mr. Wray’s office for reference). In the interview, the continuous main topic that Ms. Roberson talked about was the concept of community. This includes bringing the Mulgrave community closer together by letting everyone have a voice (particularly students) and how Mulgrave is handling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI). Developing a community also involves partnering with different companies around Vancouver and asking what we can do for them and what they can do for us. These initiatives all surround the topic of inclusivity.

The questions that I asked Ms. Roberson were:

• Can you tell me more about your role at Mulgrave?

• Why do you think it’s important for Mulgrave to have somebody focused on diversity?

• How did you become interested in diversity?

• Do you have any experience from when you were in school where you dealt with diversity?

• What are hoping students will come to talk to you about?

• What goals do you have at the school?

When Ms. Roberson was growing up, she lived in a white-dominated neighbourhood and school where she was racially profiled and a minority. This was mainly occurring at the school that she was enrolled in, where she felt outnumbered and vexatious. “I grew up in predominantly white areas. I was minoritized, I was racialized. And so when you navigate spaces where you are the only one of something, whatever that something is, it has an impact on you.” Ms. Roberson wanted to be a changemaker at her high school and formed a group of people with diverse backgrounds, people who liked the same sex, anyone who felt different and they went to the principal to say ‘This has to stop!’. “I started advocating when I was in high school ... Those of us who were minorities got together and we formed a group. And we went to the principal and we were like, we have no representation on the student council.”

After having been discriminated against and not given a voice at her high school, she wanted to change that for other kids or anyone in general. “Making sure that the diverse populations that are represented here feel like they’re safe. That’s the big thing.” Students are free to come and talk to Ms. Roberson and report what you’ve seen in the school related to DEI. “Honestly, I just want students to come to me with any issues and any observations that they feel have an impact on them or other students here at the school. With regards to using that DEI lens.” Overall, Ms. Roberson wants anyone and everyone to notice more ways we can make Mulgrave a diverse, inclusive, and equitable place starting with talking to Ms. Roberson herself and then making the steps needed to create positive change.