| Youth as Change Agents |
Calling All Colors engages middle and high school students in attending
conferences, creating a safe place to talk about race, gaining tools
for increasing positive racial impacts, and creatively collaborate throughout the school year to
implement action plans.
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At the beginning of the school year, participating
middle and high schools select a core group of students to attend the opening
conference, held at Hope College. This conference includes a keynote speaker,
small-group facilitated dialogues, school-group planning sessions, and cultural
activities. The conference is an opportunity for students to meet students from
other schools, increase awareness of different viewpoints, learn about
stereotyping and its effects, discuss feelings about race, and be exposed to
the college campus.
Following the program kick off at the
conference, student groups meet in their schools and participate in rare
open, honest discussions about race issues within the school context. The groups follow a carefully designed set of
activities and materials to prompt discussion and education. The students
discuss questions such as where students sit in the cafeteria, what jokes are
made in the hallways and how students from all cultural backgrounds are
accepted. After identifying areas of concern in their particular school, the
students develop and implement action plans to address the identified problem. Examples
of action plans include:
- students hosted a "Mix It Up Day"
- students created video to teach other students about diversity
- students held a multicultural event/festival/fair
- students wrote and performed skits on diversity
| Participant Feedback |
“I realized that it may seem like everything is okay and that there is no racism but there is. For example, I thought the south has most of the racism problems, but I’m actually living in the most segregated US state."
“The more people we can make aware of racism in our world, the more of a chance we can make a change.”
"This made me more aware of people's feelings and therefore I will treat them with the respect they deserve."
“I used to be kind of blind to racism, but Calling All Colors has opened my eyes.”
“Racism is out there. With Calling All Colors, we actually get a chance to talk about it.”
2012 Spring Middle & High School 2011 Fall Middle & High School 2011 Spring Middle & High School 2010 Fall Middle & High School 2010 Spring Middle School 2010 Spring High School 2009 Fall High & Middle School 2009 Spring High School 2009 Spring Middle School 2008 Fall High School 2008 Fall Middle School
2010-2011 High School Report 2010-2011 Middle School Report 2009-2010 High School Report 2009-2010 Middle School Report 2008-2009 High School Report 2008-2009 Middle School Report |
In 1992, nine-year-old Anisa Kintz, a student at South Conway Elementary School, approached her principal to declare that children of the school needed to also be involved in healing racism. The first "Calling All Colors" conference was held that would radiate through their community and far beyond. learn more... |
| Made Possible By |
Major Financial Supporters
Bank of America, Gannet Foundation, Holland Junior Welfare League, Mercantile Bank, Robert DeNooyer Chevrolet,
The Schalon Foundation
Participating Schools
Black River Public Schools: Black River High, Black River Middle,
Grand Haven Public Schools: Central High, Grand Haven High, Lakeshore Middle, White Pines Middle
South Haven Public Schools: South Haven High
South Haven Public: South Haven High
