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K A place for everyone at GHS Monday 23rd Friday 27th March 2015 Program of Events During Diversity Awareness Week and Every Week, Remember to Honor the GHS Diversity Pledge: “We, the students and staff of Greenwich High School, promise to build a community that promotes mutual respect. We will celebrate our differences and not let them divide us. We will work to understand, educate, and listen to each other.” Our deep appreciation goes to the many wonderfully helpful people who made this program possible, including Mr. Alessi, Ms. Barry, Mr. Bloch, Ms. ChiappettaFox, Ms. Bernstein, Ms. ArdalanClarke, Ms. Randall, Mr. Swidler, Ms. David, Mr. Ramirez, Ms. Young, Ms. Yuan, Dr. Winters and the administration, Mr. Foster and the tech staff, Mr. Rende and the custodial crew, Mr. Bobkowski and the security staff, the student hosts, and all the wonderful speakers. Our apologies to anyone we may have overlooked! A special note of thanks to the PTA for their generous support through the Arts in Education fund The GHS Diversity Awareness Club
BLOCK SCHEDULE (
MC
= Media Center Meeting Rooms,
AUD
= Auditorium,
SC
= Student Center ) March 23rd March 24th March 25th March 26th March 27th MONE TUES F WED G THU H FRI A 2 3 1 2 1 MC Screening and Q&A with the director, Courtney Bent
“Shooting Beauty” MC Dr. Yohuru Williams
“Color, Features, and Hair: Rethinking Race in the 21st Century” NO SPACE AVAILABLE MC Erin Randall: Unified Sports 1 4 2 1 2 MC Screening and Q&A with the director, Courtney Bent
“Shooting Beauty” MC Dr. Yohuru Williams
“Color, Features, and Hair: Rethinking Race in the 21st Century” NO SPACE AVAILABLE MC China Club: “Chilling in China” MC Dr. Kareem Adeeb: “An Imam’s role in a multicultural world” Lecture followed with Q&A MC 5 6 4 3 AUD Keynote Speaker: Gabriel Bol Deng “Overcoming great odds: Gabriel Bol Deng’s journey” http://hopeforariang
.org MC
Shekaiba MC Vision Club: “Recycled Life” Screening and Q&A 4 AUD The Fifty Wonders Alvin Ailey: of Korea, Past and Percussion Workshop Present MC Wakili Bennett (Photographer): “
Islamic Culture” Slide show, Lecture followed with Q&A NO SPACE AVAILABLE Mareta Hamre:
“A Christian Perspective on Diversity and Bullying” Lecture followed by Q&A NO SPACE AVAILABLE 3 6 AUD The Fifty Wonders Alvin Ailey: of Korea, Past and Percussion Workshop Present MC 5 3 4 AUD Keynote Speaker: Gabriel Bol Deng “Overcoming great odds: Gabriel Bol Deng’s journey” http://hopeforariang
.org MC MC Shekaiba Wakili Bennett (Photographer): “
Islamic Culture” Slide show, Lecture followed with Q&A Discussion: Fawziah Qadir
(Global Glimpse) “The world through a global mindset” Questions for panel: http://tinyurl.com/lt
f3ebp
(Please convey the
above link to the
students) 6 8 7 5 AUD MC Israel Club: Izzy Ezagui Lecture followed with Q&A SC MC Damien Connors: “
Bridging the Divide: CASYM:

“The Wonderful sounds of the Steel Pan: Sounds from the Caribbean” The club’s display will be showcased in the Videos: 1st & 2nd Lunch Salsa Club: “Danzas Latinas” http://youtu.be/cTOi7ON1k
pU http://youtu.be/xBM9VE63f
oo
Media center for the week. 5 7 8 7 AUD MC Israel Club: Izzy Ezagui Lecture followed with Q&A MC
NO SPACE AVAILABLE Leslie Yager: “Women in the Media: “An empty Nester Mom starts a news site in Greenwich” MC Eric JenkinsSahlin What We Choose To Remember” Lecture followed with Q&A CASYM:

“The Wonderful sounds of the Steel Pan: Sounds from the Caribbean” The club’s display will be showcased in the 6 AUD Alvin Ailey Dance Performance "My Dear Miss (Culminating Event) Blatch" Please visit these Lecture followed sites: with Q&A Media center for the week
. Lecture followed with Q&A http://tinyurl.com/
prve2jw PROGRAM DETAILS
Teachers:
To reserve seats for your class at an event, please complete the digital Diversity Awareness Week 2015 Request Form:
http://tinyurl.com/o24oh87 As seating is limited at most events, requests will be honored on a first come, first served basis. Confirmation will be sent via email. Thank you for supporting the program! Reminder Any student has the right to opt out of a presentation. Please make other arrangements for those students. Thank you. Monday 23rd (Day E) Presenter: Courtney Bent (Producer & Project founder) Venue & Block: Meeting Room 1 & 2, Blocks 2 or 1 Presentation/Description
: Screening of ”Shooting Beauty” with Q&A. The award winning
film tells the story of a photography workshop Courtney Bent started for people with significant disabilities in Boston. Since the film’s premiere in 2009, Courtney has been traveling around the country presenting it along with it's companion curriculum to schools and universities across the United States. The film opens up conversations around topics related to disability, tolerance, and diversity. About the film,
Shooting Beauty
:
http://shootingbeauty.org/about Trailer:
http://vimeo.com/2754536 Presenter: Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project Venue & Block/s: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Blocks 4 & 3 Presentation/Description: “Fifty Wonders of Korea & Korea Today.”
Once known as the Land of the Morning Calm, Korea now is one of the largest economies in the world and is becoming more and more important in the world’s economy, culture and politics. The program will include two brief documentary films about Korea; the first will illustrate the artistic and cultural achievements of Korea’s past, and the second will show the country’s industrial achievements since the Korean War. Homemade Korean desserts will be provided to attendees at the end of the program. Presenter
:
CASYM Steel Orchestra Venue: Auditorium, Blocks 6
OR
5 Presentation/Description
:
CASYM is the acronym for the Caribbean American Sports and Cultural Youth. Since its inception in 1983 as a nonprofit organization, CASYM has provided academic, recreational, social and cultural activities for young people in the Crown Heights, Flatbush and East Flatbush sections of Brooklyn. The orchestra has performed throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean and has performed with jazz legend Lionel Hampton, the Harlem Boys Choir, the Calypso King of the World, Mighty Sparrow, and Calypsonian David Rudder. The orchestra has also performed at the world famous Apollo Theater, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. Videos of Performances
:
http://youtu.be/cTOi7ON1kpU
&
http://youtu.be/xBM9VE63foo Tuesday, March 24th (Day F) Presenter: Dr. Yohuru Williams Venue & Block: Meeting Rooms 1
OR
2 Presentation/Description:
“Color, Features, and Hair: Rethinking Race in the 21st Century” In this short program, Dr. Williams reviews the history of race as a social construct and engage students in questions central to identity and culture through the study of American and African American History. Participants will review state laws on race and color and the impact segregation had and continues to have on American life and culture. Dr. Williams’ Bio
: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N3E1_7o3vSjdeYT4_DhVIQZluwf6pGCO6rQN5mvFGMQ/edit
?usp=sharing Presenter: Alvin Ailey Percussion Venue & Block: Auditorium, Block 5
OR
6 Presentation/Description: Lecture, Demonstration Workshop A onetime introductory rhythm and movement presentation using percussion instruments. Students learn about the basic rhythmic structure of indigenous music and the cultures that create it. This is an interactive presentation in which students are invited on stage to sample dance styles. A must see for the rhythm at heart. These are some of the drums used for the presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVJ1KB_p9Ks Presenter: Izzy Ezagui Venue & Block: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Block 8
OR
7 Presentation/Description
:
I
zzy Ezagui

is an Israeli soldier who was injured in combat and returned to active duty. In May of 2011, Shimon Peres, the president of Israel, awarded him the highest accolade a soldier outside the battlefield can receive. Born and raised in America, Izzy joined a Birthright group traveling to Israel when he was eighteen. He went in search of fun and returned committed to joining the Israeli army. Soon after he finished his training, war broke out on the border of Gaza. Two weeks later, he was hit by a mortar and lost his left, and dominant, arm. Despite this devastating loss, Izzy’s first thought in the hospital was that he must return to combat. He was lucky enough to meet a general who gave him that chance. Izzy’s story is not over; far from it! He continues to serve in the military reserves in an elite unit that plays a large role in any battle the IDF engages in. Video on Izzy
:
http://izzyspeaks.com/about Displays
:
Mini versions of the displays, “Israel Matters” will be hosted in the Media Center for viewing. Please check it out. Video of proposed display
:
http://www.standwithus.com/campaigns/israelmatters Wednesday 25th March (Day G) Presenter: GHS China Club Venue & Block: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Block 2 Presentation/Description
:
Join us in eating delicious Chinese food. Learn martial arts and paper cutting. Get gifts from China. Keynote Speaker
: Gabriel Bol Deng Venue & Location: Auditorium, Blocks 6
OR
5 Presentation/Description:
Gabriel Bol Deng helped his South Sudan community by establishing the Hope for Ariang Foundation as a vehicle for rebuilding the Ariang village after years of devastating conflict. Gabriel’s speech will remind us of the power of the human spirit and the value of holding on to one’s dreams. His message of hope will remind us of our human potential and the desire to succeed when others tell us that we are incapable of achieving those dreams. Feel the power of his words as they refresh your belief in the human spirit. Take a look at some of the issues Gabriel will be presenting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yct4qCzus3U More on his foundation:
http://hopeforariang.org/about Presenter: Leslie Yager, Editor of the Greenwich Free Press (GFP) Venue & Block: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Block 8 Presentation/Description
: “Women in the Media:
An Empty Nester Moms Starts a News Site in Greenwich: Pitfalls en route to 500,000 page views a month” Form
: Lecture followed with Q&A Bio
:
Leslie has a BA from Connecticut College in New London where she majored in Urban Studies. After college, Leslie worked at various Boston advertising and PR agencies before going back for her masters in communication at Boston University and later a master’s in US History at University of London. (Yes, that sounds strange, but it was an interesting perspective.) She worked as a typesetter and graphic designer for a printer in Ealing, London for three years before moving to Chicago. She continued to work as a typesetter and graphic designer for printers in Chicago and later, back in Greenwich, worked at GFI in Port Chester while volunteering in local schools, including running Afters and serving as PTA President at Julian Curtiss School. All those years volunteering in Greenwich translated to a long roster of contacts in town, which came in handy working for Patch.com for four years as a community editor and reporter in Greenwich. Later, at Patch, Leslie became a community manager for Fairfield County and Westchester. Her last position at Patch was as a reporter covering Wilton and Norwalk. Starting her own indie news site, Yager supplemented the standard fare of Police & Fire, Real Estate, Business, Government, Schools, Sports and Arts, with two additional categories: Parenting and Dogs. While most reporters in town are single men, being a woman and a parent in Greenwich Public Schools is a point of differentiation. As for dogs, there is nothing more satisfying than learning a dog featured on GFP has found a forever home! But that's just a bonus. The job is already rewarding and enjoyable. Thursday 26th March (Day H) Presenter: Dr. Kareem Adeeb Venue & Block: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Blocks 1
OR
2 Presentation/Description:
“An Imam’s role in a multicultural world” BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Kareern Adeeb a Lebanese American is a professional engineer who received his elementary, middle and high school education at College Des Freres De La Sainte Famille, a French Catholic school in Tripoli, Lebanon, and his higher education in the U.S. where he received a BS in Civil Engineering, an MS in Structural Engineering and a Phd. in Engineering. Very active within his community in the socioreligious field, Dr Adeeb is the founder, president and Imam of the American Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut. Presenter: Shekaiba Wakili Bennett Venue & Block: Meeting Room 1 & 2, Block 4
OR
3 Presentation /Description
: “
Islamic Culture.”
Ms. WakiliBennett through a slide show (photographs), lecture and Q&A will lead you to the richness of the Islamic culture. BIOGRAPHY
:
Shekaiba Wakili Bennett is a documentary photographer. Ms. Bennett received a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, and a Master of Arts in Education from Teachers College Columbia University. She holds a Permanent Teacher’s Certification in Art Education K12th grades. Ms. Bennett has taught in high schools in New York City, Long Island, and has been a guest lecturer at numerous colleges and universities. She is an activelyexhibited photographer, whose work has appeared in art galleries and museums, including the American Museum of Natural History, Tribes Gallery, The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, Gruss Center for Visual Arts, Gallery Arts India, Graphic Eye Gallery, etc. Ms. Bennett's work has also been featured in publications and media such as The New York Times, Newsday, NY ARTS, PBS, Town & Country Magazine, and several books. Presenter: GHS Salsa Club Venue & Block: Student Center, First & Second Lunch Presentation/Description: “Danzas Latinas.”
Let the GHS Salsa Club take you on a journey through Latin dancing. Students will be performing various dances such as the Merengue, Bachata and Salsa. Members of the audience will be called to join them as they step across the Student Center in perfect harmony with their partners. Presenter: Eric JenkinsSahlin Venue & Presentation: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Block 7 Presentation/Description: "My Dear Miss Blatch."
Aimlessly poking around in his attic one day, Eric JenkinsSahlin stumbled upon a dusty box of old letters to his great grandmother, Nora Stanton Blatch, who was the first female civil engineer in U.S. history and was the granddaughter of leading suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The letters included an invitation from her Cornell classmate, Hu Dongchao, to join him in building one of China's earliest railroads. While Nora ultimately declined Hu's invitation, this railroad line soon after became the starting point for the revolution that brought down Qing Empire in 1911. Inspired by these letters, Eric travelled to China in 2013 to track down Hu's living descendants and to embark on his own railroad adventure. From engineering megaprojects to the women's rights movement, these two pioneers made lasting contributions to the modern world, which Eric will explore in his presentation. BIOGRAPHY
:
Eric JenkinsSahlin is a 2005 graduate of Greenwich High School and a 2014 Fulbright Scholar to China, and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Eric is also the proud descendant of pioneering women’s rights activists through a direct matrilineal line, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriot Stanton Blatch, and Nora Stanton Blatch. Friday 27th March (Day A) Presenter: Erin Randall, GHS Unified Sports Venue & Block: Meeting Room 1 & 2, Block 1 Presentation/Description:
Unified Sports is a schoolbased program designed to offer a positive, inclusive foundation for athletic and social interaction between special education and general education students. This registered program of Special Olympics provides opportunities for high school students, with and without disabilities, to train and compete in a variety of sports against athletes of similar age and skill ability. For this program, Unified Sports participants have organized a brief presentation depicting real experiences from the program this year including personal and meaningful anecdotes they have encountered through Unified Sports. There will be a Q and A session at the end of the block. Presenter: Mareta Hamre Venue & Block: Meeting Room 1 & 2, Block 2 Presentation/Description: “A Christian Perspective on Diversity and Bullying.” BIOGRAPHY:
Mareta Hamre is the pastor at First Church of Round Hill in Greenwich. Before becoming a pastor, she was a corporate bankruptcy lawyer in Los Angeles for 10 years and then, after moving to Greenwich, an active volunteer in her children's schools and at church. She grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado and attended Harvard University, graduating in 1985. She received her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University. Her interests include Saint Augustine, ethical parenting, systematic theology, Christian perspectives on debtorcreditor law, and women in scripture. Her life has been vastly enriched by the young people she has coached on the basketball court and has worked with in the classroom on issues related to the US Constitution. Her children, Maddie and Nick Abbott, are graduates of Greenwich High School. Presenter: GHS Vision Club Venue & Block: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Block 3 Presentation /Description: Erik Bloch, “Recycled Life.”
GHS Vision Club has developed a wonderful relationship with Safe Passage, a program that works in the garbage dumps of Guatemala City in order to provide a path to a better future for the many children who live amidst the trash piles. This presentation will feature a screening of the film "Recycled Life," which illustrates the magnitude and gravity of these people's situations. The group will also talk about the ways in which Vision and the GHS community has gotten involved. Presenter: Fawziah A. Qadir, NYC Partner Program Director for Global Glimpse Venue & Block: Meeting Room 1 & 2, Block 4 Presentation/Description
:
“The world through a global mindset”
Fawziah comes from a multiethnic background, which has given her first hand insight to different cultures and people of the world. Originally born in New York, she lived in Egypt for four years, where she graduated from the American University in Cairo with an MA in international human rights law and focused on the right to education in the developing world. As an advocate for education, Fawziah believes that cultural and global awareness are essential in building a foundation for life. Fawziah speaks both Arabic and Spanish. Having previously worked with education based nonprofit organizations in both the US and Egypt, she is dedicated to youth development and engagement. Fawziah leads Global Glimpse’s expansion to New York City. Presenter: Damien Connors Venue & Block: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, Block 5 Presentation/Description: “Bridging the divide: What we choose to remember” BIOGRAPHY:
Damien Conners is the Executive Director of Excel Bridgeport, an organization working to ensure a world class education for all Bridgeport children. Previously, he served as the national executive director and CO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Inc. (SCLC)—an organization led and cofounded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Among other accomplishments during his tenure at SCLC beginning in 2010, he is honored to have founded the SCLC Poverty Institute, an organization founded to address systemic inequity. In 2013, Damien was honored with the Emancipation of Capital Award for his strategic and programmatic work around building coalitions to address socioeconomic equity in the U.S. Presenter: Alvin Ailey Dance group Venue & Block: Gym, Block 6, The Final Event Presentation/Description:
The Ailey School’s rising young artists wow audiences at venues throughout the tristate area, performing works by both emerging and established choreographers. Led by rehearsal director Freddie Moore, the School’s two performing groups are the Ailey/Fordham Student Dancers, students from the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program in Dance, and the Ailey Student Performance Group, featuring some of the School’s best Professional Division students. Dancers in both of these groups, who come from all over the world, are handpicked for their excellence to study The Ailey School’s diverse curriculum that includes ballet, Horton, Grahambased modern, jazz, West African, Dunham, and hiphop. Activities: • Introduction • Demonstration and performance • Meet the dancers: Q&A Videos showcasing various dances:
https://vimeo.com/111879446
, https://vimeo.com/80306134
,
https://vimeo.com/114999734
, Ailey’s performance will serve as the finale to a week long series of events. Share this special performance with us as we culminate Diversity Awareness Week 2015. The Diversity Awareness team thank you for your support for 2015!!!!!! Lookout 2016!!!!!