Stories Learned is an exploration of the experiences of racial minorities within independent schools through the lens of story telling. Being a racial minority in a small independent school can often be an isolating experience because of the inability to relate to many of the individuals around you. Through the power of story-telling, I hope to create an open conversation about people's experiences, in order to allow both students and faculty to build more relationships based in understanding. My ultimate goal is to build confidence, self-esteem, comfort, connections and awareness amongst racial minorities and non racial minorities alike. I learned so much in interviewing these individuals about the various facets of their identity, so I hope that you gain something from them as well! Huge thank you to Elliot Farinaro who shot and edited all of these beautiful videos! Thank you to all the lovely people who I had the privilege of interviewing! And thank you to Ari King and Ms. Mckenna who have advised me on this project since September of last year!
-Babette Thomas
Babette Thomas
Founder and Interviewer of Stories Learned
Babette has attended small independent schools in the Bay Area throughout her life. She has a passion for issues of social justice and equity, specifically the intersection between topics of gender and race. While she enjoys thinking analytically, she also enjoys finding new outlets to express her creativity. Her main strength is being able to connect with people from a range of diverse backgrounds.
Elliot Farinaro
Videographer for Stories Learned
Elliot is an award-winning filmmaker from the Bay Area, and has been making short films since he was 12. All of his published creative work can be found at his website, http://www.elliotfarinaro.com