A visit to a Chinese restaurant is more than a just a time to order egg rolls; it’s an opportunity to teach young people about the culture that is wrapped into those flaky delights.
Talking about ethnic food at dinnertime is just one of the ways the Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit civil rights agency, says families can introduce and promote diversity.
On the lawn outside East High School on Monday, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet and Dana Plewka of the Denver Newspaper Agency helped unveil the newest edition of the ADL’s booklet “Positive Impact! Tools for Respecting Differences.”
“Take time to look at this. It’s real; it’s stuff we can get done,” Hickenlooper said as he thumbed the pages.
Among the booklet’s suggestions: Students can create a poetry slam with poems and raps that break down stereotypes, collect popular teen magazines and comics from around the world, or hold a “rock against racism” concert.
Speech and debate teacher Kelli Trotsky said she intends to have her students discuss the booklet in class.
“Having conversations and allowing it to be in the classroom is the best tool to combat prejudice,” Trotsky said.
Trotsky said kids tend to gravitate to their own kind, but East High is diverse.
“The challenge is to show them they are more alike than they think,” Trotsky said.
Sophomore Jared Lowdermilk stood near the unveiling, surrounded by his racially diverse group of friends.
There are fights and segregation in the school, he said, but people are growing more tolerant.
“I don’t hate any cultures,” Lowdermilk said. “But it’s really hard to break (existing) prejudice.”
The ADL distributed 200,000 booklets last year to Colorado students, according to Bruce DeBoskey, regional director of the ADL’s Mountain States office.
The booklet includes sections in Spanish and is offered online at www.adl.org/denver.
Staff writer Julianne Bentley can be reached at 303-820-1201 or jbentley@denverpost.com.
