April is Diversity Month! Celebrate a World of Differences.

Celebrating Diversity: Embracing a World of Differences

As we celebrate Diversity Month, it’s important to remember that diversity is not just a buzzword, but a reality that affects us all. It’s a celebration of differences that help us to learn, grow and understand each other better. By embracing diversity, we can create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued.

Why It’s Important To Celebrate Diversity

Diversity promotes inclusivity, understanding, and appreciation for different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. When we celebrate diversity, we recognize the value of each individual and acknowledge the contributions that people from different backgrounds can bring to our society.

Here are some reasons why it is important to celebrate diversity:
 

1. Encourages inclusivity: Celebrating diversity encourages inclusivity and helps to create a more welcoming environment for people from all backgrounds.
2. Promotes understanding: Celebrating diversity can help to promote understanding and tolerance. By learning about different cultures and experiences, we can gain a better understanding of the challenges and struggles faced by people from different backgrounds.
3. Helps to combat discrimination and racism: Celebrating diversity helps to combat discrimination and racism by creating awareness about the importance of accepting and valuing people from different backgrounds.
4. Challenges stereotypes: When we celebrate our differences, and are open to our diversity, we can challenge common stereotypes by promoting a more nuanced and complex understanding of different cultures and backgrounds. We can highlight the diversity within different communities and showcase the unique strengths and talents of individuals from different backgrounds. 
5. Fosters creativity and innovation: By bringing together people from different backgrounds and experiences, diversity can foster creativity and innovation. It can also lead to new ideas, perspectives, and solutions to problems.
6. Enhances personal growth: Celebrating diversity can enhance personal growth by exposing us to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences. It can also help us to develop greater empathy and compassion for others.

An appreciation and respect for differences can make the world a better place for everyone. Here are some ways you can do exactly that:
 

1. Organize a cultural food festival: Plan a potluck with dishes from different cultures and invite people to bring a dish that represents their cultural background.
2. Attend a cultural event: Check out local cultural events like music, dance, and theater performances. Attend festivals that celebrate diversity in your community.
3. Volunteer for a diversity-related cause: Volunteer for organizations that work for the promotion of diversity and inclusion in society.
4. Host a book club: Choose books that talk about diversity and discuss them with a group of people. This can help in understanding different perspectives and experiences.
5. Support local businesses: Support businesses that are owned by people from different cultures. This can help promote diversity in your community.
6. Share your own story: Share your own story and experiences with others. This can help create awareness and understanding of different cultures and backgrounds.

Increase Cultural Awareness This Culture Shock

In recent years, we have seen a rise in hatred and cruelty in our society. This is evident in the news, on social media, and even in our own communities. We see people being bullied, harassed, and discriminated against because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or other differences. This is not the kind of world we want to live in. We want to live in a world where everyone is treated with kindness and respect, regardless of their background.

That's why we're hosting our 5th annual Culture Shock, an initiative to spark a conversation among youth about the need to change the culture from one of hatred and cruelty to one of kindness and inclusivity. National Culture Week provides an opportunity for youths to share and learn from each other’s diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences, and to come together as one community.

During our Culture Shock panel conversation, students will have the opportunity to hear from an all-star virtual panel of influential celebrities who will share their personal experience with racism, bias, hate, bullying, and discrimination. And more importantly, how they were able to rise above. Students are often shocked to find that they can relate to these personal experiences; creating an opportunity for further conversation, openness to cultural learning of each other’s diverse experiences and unique cultural backgrounds, and appreciation for our differences.

We believe that by increasing cultural awareness, we can create a more understanding and compassionate society. We hope that you will join us in this important conversation.

Culture Shock Moderator

• Jeannie Mai Jenkins, (co-host of The Real and E! Entertainment Channel) 

Culture Shock Panel

• Lyric Ross (actress; This Is Us),
• Leo Sheng (actor and activist; The L Word)
• Diego Tinoco (actor; On My Block)
• Casey Cott (actor; Riverdale)

Schools are invited to register and participate in our livestream Culture Week Panel and be a part of the following:

• Students view our livestream panel                            
• The panel provides a template for types of conversations that we encourage schools to initiate and discuss through Culture Week.                          
• All participating schools receive a guide for the week                         
• Registered participants will be emailed additional details about the livestream event, how to connect, the week's guide and influential speakers

School faculty and administration, this is your last chance to become a National Culture Week Ambassador and register your school. Registration is now OPEN for this year’s National Culture Week April 24th - April 28th with the Culture Shock livestream event on April 25th. Registered middle school and high schools can participate in the livestream event, be recognized on our website, help foster communication and exchange of ideas, and play a crucial part in building a stronger understanding of the challenges faced by youth of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Register now.