Diversity...Training

[TotallyWicked]

Hello Ladies and fellow Greeks!

I'm coming to you asking for some ideas from any teachers out there. I am currently working at a youth program in suburban Chicago. I honestly didn't like kids so much but now I love them! The program is intented to serve low income children and teach them skills to perform well in school.

Sounds good, but one of the MAIN difficulties I've had is getting all the kids to actually...interact with one another. The majority of the kids are either Black or Latino (and a good number of the Black students are Jamaican), but they don't seem to care to get to know, let alone learn from one another.

I am intending to start some exercises to help them help each other (e.g. the kids teach other Spanish and English). I know alot of the removal comes from their upbringing (I've met their parents, not the friendliest people on earth), but I know there's a shot since some kids hang out with whoever, while others clearly separate based on the color line.

If any of you have tips on how to do this effectively, please feel free to share, I think what would also help me is if I heard stories of you ladies' upbrining/interaction in elementary/high school/college/grad school with other races and ethnicities.

Thanks!