Diversity roundtable invites students to join

Westminster (Map, News) - A group of South Carroll parents, religious leaders and educators devoted to embracing cultural differences has invited high school students to join its mission of spreading tolerance.

“Students: That’s where change begins,” said Laura Rhodes, a Carroll County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People member who founded the South Carroll Diversity Roundtable in 2004 after a series of racist incidents.

“We got started because of issues in that particular age group, so they should be part of solution.”

Xiomara Pierre, an NAACP executive committee member, said she agrees that change can start in the schools.

“It’s hard to change a person. It’s easy to mold a young child,” she said.

Rhodes visited South Carroll High School on Thursday to invite students from the Spirit program, a new, 30-member school club that has students tackle diversity issues, to partner with the roundtable on projects.

The roundtable — a venture of the Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County Inc., a nonprofit aimed at improving residents’ well-being — was created “to inform, stimulate concern and promote South Carroll community responses in order to reduce acts of discrimination,” according to its mission statement.

When Rhodes heard about racial slurs being used and swastikas and other inflammatory graffiti tagged throughout South Carroll, she knew she had to start the roundtable.

“Race relations is difficult to talk about,” she said. “But we need to rejoice in our differences and not be frightened.”

After two years, the 15-member roundtable has developed a presentation about achieving diversity that has been shown to local social organizations, such as the Rotary Club. It also held a student poster contest and nominated students for an award for their activism against violence.

Including teenagers in the roundtable will bring “a whole new perspective and great ideas,” Rhodes said.

“There are benefits to cross-generation conversations,” she said.

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com

IF YOU GO

» What: South Carroll Diversity Roundtable

» When: 8:30 a.m. third Thursdays

» Where: South Carroll High School, 1300 W. Old Liberty Road, Sykesville

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