The Commission on Human Relations, Diversity and Equity is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013-2014 Student Leadership in Human Relations. This is the fifth year of the awards. Ten schools will be honored in Fall 2014 for their outstanding efforts to support human relations concerns in their school community:
• The Academic Leadership Community at Contreras High School - “The Underdog Project” and “Day of Silence”
• Hamilton, Fairfax and University High Schools- “Afro-American Family Day”
• Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies - “Walk to End Genocide”
• Los Angeles High School - “End Bullying Pledge Drive”
• King-Drew Medical High School - “Inspiring the Next Generation”
• Venice, Hamilton, Dorsey, Fairfax, University and Los Angeles High Schools - “Special Partners in After-School Sports”
• Washington High School - “Captured in Kindness”
The following programs helped transform the climate and culture on these campuses into safe, respectful learning environments where ethnic diversity, cultural understanding and gender sensitivity defined the student interactions of the campus community.
Program Descriptions
Academic Leadership Community at Miguel Contreras High School
The Underdog Project and Day of Silence.
Principal: Tadeo Climaco
Contact: Matthew French
Students at Academic Leadership Community know the meaning of respect for others and are advocates for reaching out to each and every student as part of unifying the school community. Students used the power of their button machine to award buttons to human relations superheroes on their campus who advocated against bullying and to speak out for respecting transgender students. The model “Day of Silence” program highlighted transgender-affirming practices and was highlighted by Fox News.
Hamilton High School, University High School and Fairfax High School
Afro-American Family Day
Principals: Gary Garcia, Eric Anderson, Carmina Nacorda
Contact: April Monroe
In order to promote intergroup relations and cultural understanding, the three high schools joined forces on Saturday, January 25 to host a series of workshops for Afro-American parents and other community members. The workshops focused on sustaining a college going culture, using the internet to secure school data, and effective parent/teacher communication. Students from neighboring middle schools were involved and this year’s event drew over 400 participants. The program established a warm and inviting welcoming opportunity for parents and the community.
Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES)
Walk to End Genocide
Principal: Harold Boger
Contact: Susan Robinson
On April 27, 2014, the students, parents and teachers conducted a walk to raise awareness about global communities affected by current-day genocide and other human relations abuses. With assistance from the Anti-Defamation League, the students were able to promote social justice, ethnic relations and cultural understanding. LACES students proved that they are truly members of a world community committed to improving human relations around the world.
Los Angeles High School
Stop Bullying Pledge Drive
Principal: Helena Yoon
Contact: Christal Espara (ARC)
A group of ESL students, often the victims of school bullying, enrolled in the Beyond the Bell Language in Action Program, conducted a “stop bullying” campaign and pledge day in May. The students sponsored by the ARC after school program held a lunch time rally where hundreds of students made a pledge to stop teasing, stop taunting, and stop picking on others. Students sealed their pledge with a handprint on a giant poster that was displayed for two days in the lunch area.
King Drew Medical High School
Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders
Principal: Juanita Rainey Woods
Contact: Brian Johnstone
At King Drew Medical High School, every student believes they can be a success without regard to race, culture or gender. In honor of National Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, an all-day campus-wide program was held to promote better treatment for women and others combatting national and global inequality. Students at King Drew are advocates for human rights for all in the next generation.
Venice, Dorsey, Fairfax, University, Los Angeles and Hamilton High Schools
Special Partners in After School Sports
Principals: Elsa Mendoza, Reginald Sample, Carmina Nacorda, Eric Davidson, Helena Yoon, Gary Garcia
Contact: Prime Time Sports
With the help of Prime Time Sports and Beyond the Bell, the staff and students at these six high schools conducted athletic competition in soccer (Fall) and basketball(Spring) pairing special needs students with general education students. This unique “inclusion” program brought together students from two worlds to play and compete together for their schools against other neighboring high schools. The competition broke down stereotypes and stigmas associated with special needs students and developed strong social, emotional and psychological bonds to special needs students and general education students. It also allowed special needs parents to see their schools in a whole new way.
Washington High School
Captured in Kindness
Principal: Dechele Byrd
Contact: Annette Harrison Owens
Students who treat peers with respect and kindness are the heroes at Washington Preparatory High School. The “Captured in Kindness” program promotes positive interactions between students and among adults. It celebrates students who personify the finest “human relations” skills each month with recognition and awards.