Rhode Island Secretary of State Addresses Tabor Academy

Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea made history when she was sworn into office in 2015, becoming the first Hispanic elected to statewide office in New England. On behalf of the LatinX group at Tabor, Isabella Garces ’23 initiated a conversation with Gorbea and invited her to be a guest speaker in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 - October 15, 2022.

On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, Tabor Academy’s following affinity groups co-sponsored the event with the LatinX group: Asian Student Coalition, Black Student Union, Gender Sexuality Alliance, Global Club, and Jewish Student Union. Members from these associations worked together to design a list of questions to ask Gorbea during advisory.  

The first special speaker of the new academic year, Gorbea had a lot of strong advice for Seawolves. She urged them to vote and offered the idea that, “Getting involved in what you’re passionate about is a great way to set roots for the future.” During the call, Gorbea also highlighted barriers she faces and her dedication to community problem solving despite pushback. She concluded the event by remarking, “Change the structure of rooms to better diversify them and solutions will be long-lasting. Look around and ask yourself, 'Who is missing from this conversation and how do I get them to the table?'” Read more about Nellie Gorbea here.