Milestone Events

Honoring Diversity Week: Learning from Each Other
March 1-3, 2004

The school's second "Honoring Diversity Week" coincided with Peace Corps Week and was sponsored by the school's Returned Peace Corps Volunteer program, the Alumni Office, and the school’s Diversity and Cultural Competency Committee, and the Milestone Celebration. Its purpose: To put faces on the various cultures that make up the school.

Each day of the celebration highlighted a different part of the world. Tibetan monks spent one day at the school creating a mandala out of brightly colored sand. In Tibetan Buddhism, a mandala is a palace that is contemplated during mediation. The monks distributed small packages of the sand during a dismantling ceremony focusing on compassion. Throughout the week, displays showcased different ethnicities, sexual orientations, traditions, and religions; an art gallery displayed diverse collections of art, crafts, and photography, as well as school members’ artwork. Lunchtime presentations and discussions focused on Native American health, community health work in Haiti, and diversity in the workplace.

Closing ceremonies included performances by African dancers and drummers, breakdancers from an Owings Mills school for children with language learning differences, and two rappers, one of them staff member John Shearin.

Plans are underway for another Diversity Week in March 2005 and for smaller diversity-related activities to be held throughout the year.