Pebbles 2007 Youth Forum

“If you don’t ask (and answer) the hard questions,

how will the situations ever change?”

One of the teenagers raised that question at our 2007 “Pebbles of Peace” youth forum. Our theme was about questions and diversity… “Building Community in a Segregated City: Are we Asking the Right Questions?”

In attendance were 203 youth and adults from fifteen schools, churches and youth organizations in and around Milwaukee. They sat in mixed groups and met young people from neighborhoods they had never visited. The table discussion was facilitated by the Teen Leaders from the House of Peace, and by students from Messmer High School’s leadership class.

After initial introductions, all the participants were divided into four different fictitious cultures, and given cultural norms, beliefs, and rituals to follow. There was great anxiety and misunderstanding when visitors from one culture interacted with another culture. Often, after the visitors left, the group discussed how differently “those other people” behaved. By the end of the simulation activity, all four groups could see the real-life analogies between our innocent game and the real world. Lots of misunderstandings take place, and lots of prejudice develops, when people from different cultures observe only surface behaviors but don’t really form relationships.

Observing just the food, the clothing, the music, the physical characteristics of another culture is just “the tip of the iceberg.” In order to really understand someone, you have to go deep. After all, what sunk the Titanic? A failure to understand the depth and size of that iceberg. What sinks us is not going deep. Not exploring what’s below the surface.

So after our simulation activity, the group participated in a deep question activity, called Kiva. Named for the inner cave area where the Hopi of the South West gathered to discuss issues and solve problems, Kiva is a process of asking the kinds of questions that engage the mind, the emotions, and the imagination. In a traditional Kiva, the participants sit in concentric circles, and the inner circle goes first, with each person answering a different question. No one comments on the answers already given; they just give their own answers to their own questions. That way, people are focused more on learning from what others say, and less on debating, debunking, or denying. Everyone learns from listening, and every answer could bring more questions to mind.

At lunchtime, we were joined by the following community leaders:

• Richard Badger (Mayor's Office)
• Esther Welch (Milwaukee Sheriff Dept.)
• Marquette Baylor (from Senator Kohl's office)
• Rebecca Lopez (from Senator Feingold’s office)
• Judge Phil Chavez (Municipal Court Judge)
• Jamar Willis (Boys and Girls Club)
• Police Officer Derrik Lemmie (Milwaukee District 3 Community Liaison Officer)
• Barbara Pollach (Elizabeth Brinn Foundation)
• Latoya Freeman (UW Extension, Pre-College Coordinator)
• Hattie Daniels-Rush (Milwaukee County Executive’s Office)
• Professor Dan DiDomizio (Urban Ministries, Cardinal Stritch University)
• Ted Perry (Fox-6 TV)
• Shelly Roder (Cap Corps director)
• Jon Royal (Cap Corps)
• Tyrone Dumas (Milwaukee Public Schools)
• Genyne Edwards (Mosaic Partnership Program)
• Tom McGinnity (Teachers Education Center)
• Theresa Kopac (Radio Milwaukee 88 Nine)
• Officer Milton Stubbs (Milwaukee Police, School Resource Office)
• Officer Michelle Angiolo (Milwaukee Police, School Resource Officer)
• Jason Fields (State Representative)
• Khalif Rainey (from Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s Office)

The community leaders shared food and conversation with the young people. The adults heard about the morning activities and some the insights of the youth; the young people learned what the adults do in the community and how they affect change and influence people.

After lunch, the young people returned to their back home groups to discuss the issues that energized them the most. They were asked to design projects or activities they could implement during the school year to begin to address some of these issues. Here are their plans:

• Early View Academy, “Diversity Fair” (week-long, school-wide event culminating with a youth rally that expresses respect, acceptance and unity)
• High School of the Arts, “Slamming Stereotypes” (Address stereotypes in a series of different events fostering empathy, e.g. poetry slam, theatre, speakers, etc)
• Alliance High School, “Photo Exhibit with a conscience” (Details are “secret”!)
• Marquette University High School, “Bridging the Gap” (Structured conversations among the single gender Catholic schools: Marquette, St. Joan Antida and Divine Savior Holy Angels).

• St. Joan Antida High School, “Si Se Puede” (Raising cultural awareness and reducing misunderstandings at school)
• Messmer High School, “Celebrating Diversity” (pep rally/ fun fact competition about diversity), “Community Culture Day” (public event to educate participants about different cultures), “Promote Equality” (An assembly emphasizing the equality among different cultures, especially African Americans, Latinos, and Caucasians.)

• Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, “Open Forum” (safe place for students of different cultures/races/religions to voice concerns as they face cultural insensitivity within the school, toward a larger event having an impact on the larger school community)
• Mary, Queen of Heaven Church, “Project Peace” (promoting and encouraging diversity awareness projects in the West Allis community)
• Prince of Peace Catholic Church, “Cultural Fair” (Art, poetry, music, food for young people, reflecting the diversity of cultures)

• St. William Catholic Church, “Cultural Misunderstandings” (Cultural event for youth of the Catholic Community of Waukesha)
• New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, “Outlook on Diversity” (Sharing information about cultural diversity to their congregation)
• Casa Romero, “Cure Unhealthy Prejudice” (Presentations in the community about overcoming racism and prejudice)
• Project Ujima, “Ujima Diversity Initiative” (Showcasing different ethnic groups, workshops during the summer program, by the youth advisory committee)
• Safe and Sound, “Operation Diversity” (monthly multicultural awareness events)
• Heart Love Place, “Lending a Helping Hand” (Helping young people of all cultures to have a better place)

At the end of the day, we asked young people to complete evaluation forms and then come up to the “open microphone” tell us their thoughts and feelings about the day. Here are some of their comments:

“This program has made me more aware of my leadership capabilities and has given me a greater understanding of cultural differences.”

“People are different. These unavoidable and perhaps even potentially beneficial differences are often treated as insurmountable.”

“I have a better understanding of what issues we are really dealing with, and the questions we need to be asking.”

“This has helped me understand the viewpoints of people from many different backgrounds. “

“This program encourages us to actually do something. It’s lets us make our point by accomplishing something.”

“This experience allowed me to express my opinions to others and let me do something about the challenges.”

“I realized that one of the major causes of violence is poverty.”

“This program helped me become more aware of the importance of speaking out against violence.”

“I saw a student that I knew who was always too shy to express herself. Today I saw her speak up with confidence.”

“You can start small and eventually go past the barriers to create a world of respect.”

“I feel more empowered to change how our society is. I feel like I can make a difference.”

“I learned that standing up against violence is better than being silent. Like lots of little pebbles, we can outweigh the boulders.”

We will re-gather at the House of Peace on April 26, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm so the students can showcase their projects and we can all celebrate the leadership and learning of our young people. Please join us!

Thank-you!!!

“Pebbles of Peace Outweighing Boulders of Violence”

is possible because of the generosity of the following:

House of Peace

The Christian Stewardship Foundation

Elizabeth Ann Brinn Foundation

David C. Scott Charitable Trust

Ann and Fred Luber Foundation

Cardinal Stritch University

Office of Vocation Development

East Side Child and Youth Ministry

St. Roman Congregation in Milwaukee

St. Agnes Congregation in Butler

Ss. Mary and Peter in Port Washington

St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Racine

The Catholic Community of St. William in Waukesha

Messmer High School

Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Pebbles of Peace Planning Committee

House of Peace Teen Leaders