The mission of the Diversity Club at Portage High School is to educate others on diversity: to encompass acceptance and respect with students, staff, and the community. This means to accept each person as a unique individual and to share and learn about their similarities and differences. For the past three years, when Diversity Club members meet on Tuesday after school, they discuss how to spread the word, to educate others on diversity. During the meeting, topics such as fundraisers, community service projects, skit practices, and activities for the remainder of the year are discussed.
Although a new group, each year the diversity club gains new members, and participate in new activities. At the beginning of the year, the group speaks to the incoming freshmen about the club. To recruit new members, an ice cream social is a time where Diversity Club members can share what the group does, and what the plans are for the year. Small groups have icebreakers, then they process topics such as discrimination, racism, and bullying. This helps students see that no matter what the color of your skin is, everyone has been discriminated against in some manner.
One of the favorite activities of Portage High School Diversity Club is performing skits. The skits are written and performed by Diversity Club members for Portage Township elementary and middle schools. The club has performed the skits at Fegely Middle, Aylesworth, Chrisman, South Haven, and Saylor elementary schools. The skits are interactive, and students are asked what they would do if they were in the situation presented to them. These skits have focused on issues such as bullying and racism, where students are singled out because they look different than others. There is a discussion afterwards in a classroom setting. The skits are a great way for younger students to begin to understand diversity, as they listen intently to the older students perform, and ask questions afterwards. Both the younger students and the Diversity Club members enjoy and learn from one another in this fun, informal setting.
Student exchanges are also a big part of Diversity Club. During a student exchange, a group of Portage High School Diversity Club students go to another school and each student shadows a student from the host school. Within this activity, they learn about both similarities and differences between schools. After the shadowing, the students from the schools convene to process their experience. Cultural and race differences are discussed. Questions are asked if these differences are embraced within each school. The differences and similarities between lunches, classes, teaching styles, are also compared and contrasted. Stereotypes of the school’s community are discussed, as students process whether these stereotypes affect the education they receive within their school. The following week, the Portage High School students follow the same routine with students coming to Portage. Last year, Portage High School Diversity Club participated in exchanges with Valparaiso, Merrillville, and Kouts. This year, exchanges will include Valparaiso, East Chicago, and Crown Point High School.
Diversity Club participated in Merrillville High School Martin Luther King Jr. workshops. These were performed by their STAND Club (Socially Together and Naturally Diverse.) This is Portage’s third year participating in this event. Students from Portage and six other schools attend workshops on racism, current topics, and cliques. Martin Luther King’s teachings are the topics of discussion, and the workshops process where his teachings are at today, and how each school’s diversity club can continue to promote his teachings. These workshops are always a powerful way to connect with different diversity clubs throughout the state, exchange ideas, and meet new people.
Diversity Club President, senior Kyra Fuller, joined diversity club because, “Spreading the message about diversity is something I am passionate about.” Her favorite part of the club are the skits because, “I enjoy being a positive role model to kids, and it is never too early to teach kids about the importance of diversity.” Freshman group member Amanie Foster likes diversity club because, “We can be ourselves and not worry about being judged.”
Portage High’s Diversity Club is always looking for opportunities to educate others on the importance of diversity. They are always eager to perform their skits, to try get the word out and educate others about diversity. The Diversity club students say, “Even though we are all unique individuals, we are all the same.”