In this student-created video, people share their experiences of being excluded and encourages the acceptance of diversity.
Created by high school students from American University's Discover the World of Communication Summer Program held at University of California Berkeley during the Summer of 2011.
Diversity/Multiculturalism
This student-created video promotes the film, Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness, with three simple words to counter hate: I Am Human.
Created by high school students from American University's Discover the World of Communication Summer Program held at University of California Berkeley during the Summer of 2011.
After a series of anti-immigrant attacks by local teenagers ended with the hate crime killing of local immigrant Marcelo Lucero, art students at Patchogue-Medford High School wanted to do something positive for the Lucero family and spread a message of peace. Over the course of a year, students gathered after school to create We Are All United: No One Walks Alone, a mosaic dedicated to Marcelo Lucero.
From Facing History teacher Julie Mann, who is screening the full-length documentary Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness with her students at Newcomers High School in Queens, NY.
There are two documents. The first begins discussion using several short clips available on NIOT.org: the Light in the Darkness trailer, Joselo's Journey Part 1, Raising the Curtain on Unity and Embracing Differences, all of which can be found here.
The second document provides discussion questions for small groups after screening the full-length film.
This lesson is part of the Not In Our School Video Action Kit, a comprehensive toolkit featuring films, lessons, and resources designed to motivate students to speak out against bullying, and create new ways to make their schools safe for everyone.
How does Not In Our Town inspire students to talk about inclusion and take positive action against hate and intolerance? At the Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) leaders invited Not In Our Town Executive Director Jonathan Bernstein to present films and engage in conversation about working together to create safe schools and communities.
In this excerpt of "Not In Our School Palo Alto," Palo Alto High School students in Margo Wixsom's art classes design compelling posters about confronting intolerance and stereotyping. (2:34)
Discussion Questions:
As large scale protests across the country highlight the racial injustice that continues to plague the country, Dr. Martin Luther King's dream for justice, equality and non-violence provides an urgent call for reflection and action this year.
Every January, Not In Our Town honors Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy by sharing the real life stories of people who are applying Dr. King’s principles today. Though the political landscape has changed since the Civil Rights era, his dream that the United States would fulfill its promise of equality has yet to become reality. But Dr. King’s work proves that change is indeed possible in this country.
The communities in Embracing the Dream: Lessons from the Not In Our Town Movement are living proof of that—town by town, school by school, they demonstrate that change is happening. Watch their stories below.
What will you do this Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 18th - to Embrace the Dream?
Not In Our Town provides Three Simple Action Steps
1) Take the Pledge to Stop Hate and Bullying
At South Ocean Middle School in Patchogue, NY, students are using art to talk about the tragic murder of local Ecuadorean immigrant Marcelo Lucero. After seven local high school students were arrested for the killing, Principal Linda Pickford wanted to create a safe environment where her students could express their feelings about the tragedy, and share their ideas about diversity, immigration, inclusion and respect. So when Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri suggested she host an art exhibit called “Embracing Our Differences,” she mounted the collection of banners on the front lawn of her school, opening up a conversation about how our differences and how communities can come together. (5:53)
Discussion Questions:
Ariana's brother was killed in a drive-by shooting. Most of her classmates at Mother Caroline Academy in Dorchester, Massachusetts, have been affected by violence. After watching "Not In Our Town" in a Facing History class, Ariana and her peers launch their own neighborhood “Spread the Peace” campaign to help stop the violence. (11:23)
Discussion Questions:
Mahatma Gandhi advised “Be the change you want to see in the world.” How do the students and teachers in the video exemplify this idea?
If the violence in their community persists despite the efforts made by the students from Mother Caroline, do you still think that they were successful? Why or why not?
The students profiled in the video have faced a lot of adversity, loss and violence. Their Principal stated that she feels these experiences have made them even more motivated to succeed in school and life. What lesson do you feel this could offer to all young people, regardless of economic, racial, religious or cultural background?
Every year, Palo Alto Unified School District holds "Not In Our Schools" month to encourage students to talk about and take action against hate. To kick off the fourth annual event, students, teachers and community members came together to watch the premiere of a documentary about their model campaign. (2:51)