Young Peacemakers
Making a Difference: Healing Racism at Sarasota High School
In following our mission and thinking globally while acting locally, our training coordinator and URI liaison, Dr. Deri Joy Ronis, is providing teens with a safe space for ongoing conversations and hands-on activities to learn to eradicate prejudice and bias.
From November 2010 to February 2011, 40 teens from Sarasota High School met with Dr. Ronis for an hour, boys one week, girls the next, for a total of 15 weeks. The students shared that - besides this being their favorite class! - they felt free to verbalize their feelings about issues confronting them today. Topics included fear of bullying, what is happening in the world, not wanting to have to go into the army, problems at home with their families, and conflicts with their parents. The biggest issue was having tools to express anger without being verbally abusive or violent. Most said their parents needed to know how to communicate without yelling. Many students also described how they had been affected by people judging them for the way they wore their hair, or for their background, and felt that learning not to stereotype was very useful. Two students stepped forward to compete in the Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay's speech contest. Kayla Wolnik, a sophomore, spoke about domestic violence among in teenage couples: "If a teen finds themselves in a dating situation that is dangerous, either emotionally or physically, they need to find a way out." Kelvin Carranza, a freshman, talked about his Honduran and Cuban roots, and spoke about his own experience with bullying. He stated: "I believe that if students can be taught, like I was in Dr. Deri's class on healing racism and bullying, to learn the skills of how to get along, then they could excel more at being friends and helping each other."
The Healing Racism study circle was funded with a grant from the Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay Foundation. The study circle will continue for the rest of the school year with a new group of students, with funding from CRT. Discussions are underway concerning possible expansion to other schools in the fall.
History Club Learns about Different Religions
Mr. Baeszler's History Club at Sarasota High School is a lively place. Once a week, students from all grade levels (freshmen through seniors) gather to deepen their understanding about world history, including the role of the world's religions. Over the past few years, CRT has provided speakers on Islam, Buddhism, the Mennonite faith, New Thought, and ethical development. The students appreciate hearing from people of other faiths and learning about their spiritual journeys. This year, they expressed surprise that two of their speakers are currently practicing faiths other than the one they were born into - a Buddhist who had previously been a Jew, and a Muslim who was brought up as a Catholic. Several students also noted how important it is "to think about what you believe in - because then you will be prepared to act on your beliefs."
CRT will continuing sending speakers to Mr. Baeszler's History Club to expose the students to a wide range of religious beliefs and traditions.
Teaching Tolerance in High School
Funded with a small grant from Teaching Tolerance, a program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, CRT recently began pilot testing an application of Study Circle technology in Sarasota High School. The project provided training for teachers in how to create conflict-free classrooms and defuse potentially threatening situations. The project also provided weekly sessions in an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classroom, focusing on increasing tolerance towards others who are different. Discussion focused on issues of racism, religious intolerance, and stereotypes about people with disabilities. Both students and teachers were enthusiastic about the course, which is being continued through another grant, with plans for replication in other classrooms and schools. Click here to read an evaluation of the project.
Internships
Many high school and college students are interested in the Middle East and in finding new ways to bridge religious and national divides. CRT can provide meaningful volunteer work experiences in the US or Israel. Students will get a chance to meet the peacemakers in person, organize interfaith events, and use their own skills and talents to help build a more peaceful future. (Unfortunately, with rare exceptions we cannot fund travel or housing costs.) Contact us for further information.
Read Jason's blog from his internship in Israel during the summer of 2010.
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