Lake Forest Academy is hosting the seventh annual Fostering Intercultural Respect and Engagement (FIRE) conference on January 23. Led by LFA prefects and students, it invites students from public and private schools across the Chicagoland area.
The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and consists of three student- and faculty-led dialogue sessions. Each year, the FIRE conference introduces a new theme reflecting recent challenges students encounter. This year’s theme is “Bridging Barriers: Forging Connections in a Divided World.” It will be paired with a keynote address, “The Neuroscience of Belonging,” delivered by Dr. Pascal Losambe, Director of Diversity and Community Life at Columbus Academy. The change from last year’s theme, “Igniting the Future: Building Bridges Towards Collective Growth” reflects on how simple emotional safety could present a deeper examination through science.
Dr. Lusanda Mayikana, who has overseen LFA’s FIRE conference since 2017, emphasizes the importance of this conference in the current changing society. She explains that the conference “provides a vital framework for discourse across difference in an era of increasing polarization.” According to Mayikana, the conference is not only relevant to global issues but also crucial for students living in a rapidly changing world.
“By prioritizing civil dialogue, the program equips students with the cultural fluency needed to bridge ideological divides and navigate today’s complex political landscape, all while strengthening the fabric of inclusive school communities,” Mayikana said.
While the conference has now become a tradition at LFA, some students find it challenging to participate due to academic responsibilities. Abbey Welsh ‘28 shared, “I’ve been interested in attending the conference, and I would definitely consider going if it didn’t require missing school.” As a result, some students may not fully understand what they are trying to accomplish.
Mayikana noted that the term is subjective and instead emphasized the intentionality behind the program when asked what makes the FIRE conference “special.” She pointed to the careful planning that allows students to learn to listen respectfully and engage thoughtfully with participants from schools such as Illinois Math and Science Academy, Adlai Stevenson High School, Beacon Academy and Carmel Catholic High School. In the future, the FIRE Conference will continue to serve as a program for students to practice these skills throughout the whole community.