“Men hate each other because they fear each other, and they fear each other because they don’t know each other, and the don’t know each other because they are often separated from each other.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Nearly a decade ago the concerned voice of a nine-year-old girl from the Carolinas spurred the movement, Calling All Colors, which is still bringing thousands of students from diverse background together in communities across the nation. The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids’ Healing Racism Committee is proud to bring this program to Grand Rapids as its local sponsor. Calling All Colors joins together over 120 fifth graders from ethnically diverse area schools for a day-long program its organizers hope is a life changing experience. At the opening rally, the students join other students from schools they’ve probably never heard of before. They only know they’re in the same group based upon the color of their T-shirts. Their teachers leave them in the hands of trained youth facilitators to participate in role playing exercises, interactive games, and the viewing of dramatic presentations.
The teachers attend their own workshops to learn how to bring messages of diversity back to their schools and communities. All activities are designed to help students open up about and work together to identify common misconceptions about issues of diversity including race, religion and different cultures. “This unique project highlights Rotary’s commitment to building a community where diversity is celebrated among all our members – from our youth, to our business leaders.” says Don Williams, past president of the club.
According to Sandi Frost Parrish, a committee chair, response from both students and teachers has prompted Rotary’s repeated support of the Calling All Colors program. “Teachers have told us this is one of the most worthwhile events they have ever attended because their students need a place to talk about and learn more about these issues.”
