As Latino populations grow in Blaine County schools, "we want to see bridges built rather than see canyons develop," said Penny Thayer, a limited English proficiency professional for the Blaine County School District.
To help bridge social, cultural and lingual gaps, the Blaine County School District, in conjunction with local elementary school Parent Teacher Associations and the Latino Parents' Organization, is organizing a seminar entitled Dynamics of Diversity. The seminar will be held Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Wood River High School, Room C105.
"All of us want what's best for our children," said Sam Byrd, seminar facilitator and president of DiversityWorks and director of the Center for Community and Justice in Boise.
Byrd has more than 25 years experience working with cross-cultural and organizational development issues in Idaho.
"We have a great opportunity here because people are willing to do this and want to work to make it happen," Byrd said.
As Byrd knows full well, discussions that deal with race and culture are often difficult.
"I have been trained and educated to create an environment where we can talk about what most people are afraid to talk about," Byrd said.
The idea to provide such a forum sparked during discussions over an annual PTA meeting. Thayer suggested to PTA leaders that a cross-cultural workshop designed to promote communication between parents of differing backgrounds had the potential of creating lasting and positive connections. Thayer has long been an integral member of the school district's bilingual education program and often acts as liaison between the Latino Parents' Organization and the county's PTA groups.
"When I approached PTA leaders with the idea of holding a talk on diversity, they immediately hopped on board," Thayer said. "We really want to create some personal contacts and have the parents know one another on a first name basis."
Elizabeth Schwerdtle, co-president of the Hailey PTA said, "I think this is going to be a really wonderful opportunity to promote understanding and help connect our community."
Irma Reigle, co-secretary of the Latino Parent's Organization, said she agrees.
"This is a good opportunity for both," Reigle said. "Everyone has something to say because we have children in common."
Byrd's goal is to provide a forum that will promote interaction and to breakdown the walls that impede productive discourse. Walls many do not even know have been erected, Byrd said.
The goals are twofold, said Byrd.
"One, it is important to understand that what we learn growing up affects how we feel about other cultures. And two, we use that information and understanding to allow the parents to work together and get to know one another.
"I begin by asking open-ended questions: What does diversity mean to you? What does culture mean to you? I don't tell people what diversity and culture are."
The reason being, Byrd sees the discovery as an organic process that each group he assists works towards in different ways.
He explained that words such as "culture" and "diversity" hold vastly different meanings to people.
"When we are able to understand, as a group, how these terms are used instead of how they are used individually, progress is made," he said.
After the aforementioned discussion, the real interaction will begin.
"We then break into groups of three or four because the best way to learn about productive interaction is not by talking about it, but through actual interaction," Byrd said. "(Last) the groups come back together and discuss what this means to you, to your children."
It's all about being open to new perspectives.
"We need to open our minds together," Reigle said. "Because we are toward solutions for our children."
In the cafeteria of Woodside Elementary School in Hailey, where ethnic diversity is the spice of life, students enjoy lunch, friends and educational opportunities. Photo by Willy Cook
