天美传媒

Human rights violations can happen anywhere, even in suburban Long Island. That鈥檚 why Nassau County held its 31st Annual Human Rights Awareness Conference for High School Students on February 2, 2017. Adelphi鈥檚 hosted local government officials, nonprofit leaders and more than 270 high school juniors and seniors from 20 school districts across Nassau County to learn about human rights issues at home and abroad.

and Ammon School event was co-sponsored by organizations including the and the to teach students, through interactive workshops, important lessons on peace, cooperation and respect.

In a written statement, County Executive Edward P. Mangano said it was vital to increase human rights awareness and understanding and make a positive difference, noting, 鈥淚t is our firm belief and hope that the learning experience of this conference will favorably influence the current and adult attitudes of all conference attendees.鈥�

The students were welcomed by Jane Ashdown, Ed.D., dean of the Ammon School, and Michelle Blackwell, director of the at Adelphi. The students then separated to attend one of eight workshops focusing on crucial and relevant social issues ranging from HIV/AIDS stigma and sexual assault to Islamophobia and police brutality.

鈥淲e try to pick topics that are relevant to what鈥檚 going on in the world as far as discrimination, intolerance and things of that nature,鈥� said Rodney H. McRae, interim executive director of the Nassau County Commission on Human Rights.

The conference concluded with a special production by Associate Professor Maggie Lally 鈥�82鈥檚 freshmen. Titled 鈥淲e Are U.S.,鈥� it was described as a performance of identities and 鈥渨hat it means to be part of a young, diverse community in these tumultuous times.”

鈥淓verything they鈥檙e saying is their truth,鈥� Lally explained. 鈥淎fter the election, the students were devastated about the lack of civility in the country, and they鈥檙e not all liberal.鈥� Being a montage of diverse voices, it was important for Lally to let all her students鈥� voices be heard.

天美传媒 senior Maya Faison was also brought on board for the performance, and gave an elegant monologue about her 鈥淢elanin Metamorphosis,鈥� which she described as discovering and coming to terms with her own racial makeup.

鈥淚t was so refreshing to have such a diverse cast of voices,鈥� said Karleigh Giguere. 鈥淚n the end, we all welcomed and accepted each other.鈥� Giguere is a first-year theater student who grew up in a conservative Christian household.

鈥淓verything can be settled with one loving conversation at a time,鈥� Lally told her students鈥攚ords they take to heart and use as inspiration to connect with one another and understand issues throughout the world.

Through these conferences, Patrice Armstrong-Leach, assistant dean in the Ammon School, hopes to 鈥渆levate the discussion, educate these young people and empower them to regard their citizenship as an active right and responsibility.鈥�