In conjunction with several other local schools, KHS students study tolerance and cultural understanding
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, Kennetttimes.com
Students from around the region sit down to a multicultural lunch at Kennett High's Diversity Conference
KENNETT SQUARE — Learning not to fear the things that make people different and focus on the rich variety of aspects that make a community is one way local students are building bridges not just among themselves, but throughout the region.
On Saturday, Kennett High School held its 11th Annual Diversity Conference, an event organized to promote tolerance and educate students on the different cultural aspects of the many ethnic groups that make up the nation as well as tackling the everyday social issues of Twenty-first century youths.
The conference drew student delegations from local schools such as Avon Grove, Oxford, Henderson, Coatesville, and also more distant schools from Norristown, Radnor, and Philadelphia—even a collegiate delegation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The five hour event was kicked off by a speech from State Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D-19) focusing on the aspect of cultural communication and how certain things deemed to be acceptable or “the norm” in one cultural may be completely foreign to another.
After the Senator’s talk, students were assigned to various workshops detailing issues such as cyber-bullying, gangs and their prevention, community service, and contemporary issues such as the Trayvon Martin incident.
“The kids use these workshops to promote understanding and awareness in cultural similarities also,” Assistant Principal Raymond Fernandez said. “They learn through things like this that even though we’re all different, in many ways we’re the same.”
Following the completion of the workshops, students broke for lunch, which consisted of a smorgasbord of ethnic foods ranging from Italian, Mexican, Asian, Caribbean, to a multitude of other cultural samplings. The distribution of food and beverages was detailed to a group of KHS volunteer students, who worked diligently to keep the lines moving.
Finally, a presentation from Cambodian Genocide survivor Chiny Ky was given, detailing the harrowing experience of living in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge and the Pol Pot regime as well as elaborating on the influx of Southeast Asian immigrants since the 1970s.
“My story is about why they’re coming here,” Ky said, “Why the left Southeast Asia and moved to the Delaware Valley, especially between the 1980’s and 90’s. And now they’re still coming.
“It’s mainly because of the Khmer Rouge, but also because of the war in Vietnam,” he continued. “There are over 20,000 refugees and immigrants from that region living in the Philadelphia area today.”
Overall, when the day came to a close, the general mood among students and attendees was one of accomplishment and satisfaction in the knowledge that they came together to work and explore new ways to enhance the dignity and empowerment of their fellow men and women.
Funding for the event was provided by the Exelon Corporation. Food and beverages were donated by several local businesses such as Taqueria Moraleon, Taco Bell, Basciani Mushrooms, the Pepsi Bottling Group of West Chester, and many other Kennett Community businesses.
