On Wednesday, February 12, over 120 RCDS community members and friends gathered in the Cohen Center for the Creative Arts for the grand opening WE ARE RCDS: BRIDGING, BELONGING, & BUILDING COMMUNITY.

The celebratory reception included special remarks and guided tours of this customized two-years-in-the-making educational installation developed in partnership between RCDS, Common Circles, and AJC (American Jewish Committee). Aimed at fostering empathy, reducing bias and antisemitism, and building a sense of belonging, the exhibit uses art, technology, storytelling, and lessons from the Holocaust to spread awareness and build bridges in communities.

Read more about the Common Circles Exhibit

Head of School Randall Dunn opened the evening sharing, “This incredible exhibit and the partnership it represents is central to our shared commitment to building a more inclusive, connected world.”

Thanking Common Circles Founder Marla Felton, P'19, P'21, Creative Director Sue Spiegel, and RCDS Assistant Head of School Meredith deChabert for their collaboration since the spring of 2023, Mr. Dunn emphasized, “As an educational institution we know the critical role we must play in building awareness and educating our community about antisemitism and all forms of hate.”

At the podium, Dr. deChabert detailed the two years of teamwork it took to bring the Common Circles exhibit to RCDS. “As I experienced the exhibit [in White Plains School District] that spring [of 2023], my educator’s mind raced with connections to both existing and potential curriculum. The topics were beyond relevant; they were urgent, and the possibilities for learning were endless. I knew right away that this exhibit could do so much to strengthen our community, to deepen understanding, to inspire action. Marla and Sue were onto something brilliant. We had to bring it to RCDS.” 

Carrie Burke, RCDS’s Director of DEI, recounted her own experience participating in the exhibit and her educator’s view of this work's importance for students. Lynette Gioffre, the School’s Director of Advancement, briefly spoke about the importance of supporting the partnership’s longevity through philanthropy.
 
Marla Felton and Sue Spiegel, the dynamic founding duo behind Common Circles, delivered heartfelt remarks, which inspired both smiles and tears from the audience and imparted their infectious commitment to the cause of strengthening communities through education and human connection. They expressed their own words of gratitude to their many partners, including loved ones, RCDS, advocacy organizations, and each other. Ms. Felton also shared the origin story of Common Circles, which she launched in 2015 as a tribute to her uncle Martin Greenfield who survived the Holocaust and immigrated to the United States to build a life of joy, accomplishment, and purpose. 

Representatives from the USC Shoah Foundation and AJC, two organizations whose support has been critical to Common Circles, closed the evening emphasizing the importance of sharing stories and fostering connection in order to make sure hate does not spread.

Members of the RCDS community who contributed their own familial stories of hope and survival to exhibit were in the audience, adding even more meaning and relevance to the unforgettable evening. 

RCDS sophomore Chaim Sciamma ’27 closed out the remarks portion of the evening with his own reflection on visiting the exhibit with classmates and a special performance of Nothing More by Alternate Routes.

Before guests dispersed to take tours of the exhibit, a joyful group surrounded Mr. Dunn, Dr. deChabert, Ms. Felton, and Ms. Spiegel for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. With that, the exhibit’s grand opening was official, and the lessons of history and the power of humanity were alive and strong.

Reflecting on the powerful event, Mr. Dunn said, “We are so grateful to the many community members who joined us. I look forward to the exhibit’s continued presence on our campus and to meeting the many community members I know will come to experience it.” Dr. deChabert added, “Our hope is that other schools will work with RCDS and Common Circles to envision how they might bring this customizable installation to their campuses. Get in touch!”

Tours of WE ARE RCDS are available by appointment here.

Gifts can be made to support this meaningful educational experience here.