Empowering students with language-based learning differences
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Upcoming Events
Please check back here for upcoming Siena DEIB events for the 2026-2027 school year.
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Upcoming Event
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The Siena School hosted an in-person and virtual screening of the documentary, Left Behind, on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026. The film shares the inspiring story of a group of determined moms who band together to found the first public school for students with dyslexia in New York City — the largest school district in America.
This screening was arranged in partnership with DCIDA, the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children, Daily Border Crossings, and Siena's Parents of Black Students Association (PBSA). It concluded with a panel discussion and Q&A with Naomi Peña and Fatima Geidi from Left Behind, Resha Conroy from the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children, Jacquelyn Davis from DCIDA and the Mid-Atlantic Region of Mocha Moms, Inc.
Transracial adoption is a story of love and connection – but also of identity, race, and belonging. On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, DEIB Director Samantha Fletcher welcomed guest panelists Beverly Clarke of The Barker Adoption Foundation and Christopher Brown of Brewster Academy in New Hampshire for stories and conversation exploring complexities via first-person, lived experience and professional expertise.
On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Siena's Samantha Fletcher welcomed special guests Jamila Zahra Felton and Erica Thompson for a Zoom conversation about The Green Book, its historical legacy, and contemporary relevance.
On October 8, 2024, Siena's Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Samantha Fletcher welcomed Naomi Peña, Co-Founder and Director of Community & Family Engagement, Literacy Academy Collective. Peña shared her experiences and insights on dyslexia and the Hispanic/Latino community, what all educators and parents should know, and her journey to becoming a founder of a groundbreaking public school for struggling readers partnering with NYC public schools.