Dominican students learn ‘Diversity in Action’

Almost every week from 3:30-5:30 p.m., members of St. Mary’s Dominican High School’s “Students for Human Dignity and Diversity in Action” (SHDDA) club join Dominican Sisters of Peace Suzanne Brauer, Pat Thomas and Ceal Warner – who run the Peace Center (2837 Broadway St., New Orleans) – to help students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
     

“We are role models for the kids, showing them that somebody can do well in high school,” Dominican junior Sydni Griffin said. 
    

“And, that they can do the same thing,” Selae Walker, a sophomore, chimed in.

    

Griffin said they sometimes bring activities for the enjoyment of the after-school kids, who come from St. Rita, St. Joan of Arc, Lafayette Academy and Live Oak. 
    

One recent Monday, junior Angelle Nash was helping third-grader student Enyri Scott with her Language Arts assignment – answering questions about a Beatrix Potter story, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” that was read in class.
    

“What was the story about?” asked Nash.
    

“It said the hare was mischievous,” Enyri said, adding how much she likes having high school students help her. “They are more fun and play with us more.”
    

In another room of the center, Griffin was helping Curtrell Smith, 8, speed through math homework. Curtrell said math is his favorite subject and said he likes coming to the center to do his homework, get on the computers, play football outside and sometimes board games. 

Club expands cultural horizons
    

Vallerie Maurice, a Dominican alumna and the Unity in Diversity coordinator and club moderator, started the club as a grassroots effort in January 2018. It formally began in the 2018-19 school year and now has approximately 25 members of all ethnic backgrounds. Dr. Maureen Wright, a Dominican board member, is a club advisor.
    

“I am trying to send a message to the kids – you have to work at this,” Maurice said. “It’s not just somebody coming in and talking for 15 minutes. The human dignity part – this is important to us at Dominican. We want to make sure our school com munity upholds the dignity and value of every life, including the students who walk the halls. We realize we have students of different backgrounds, religions. We are going to uplift them and respect their human dignity.”
    

At their meetings, members said they discuss problems around the world and celebrate different cultures during Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage month, Women’s History Month and even Asian-Pacific American heritage month. 
    

Guest speakers enlighten members on cultural differences.
     

Club activities have included field trips such as a luncheon at Dooky Chase Restaurant during Black History month, a Feb. 11 visit to Terrance Osborne Gallery and, at school, hosting movie screenings during lunch (“Black Panther,” “Coco” and “Hidden Figures”) to sell popcorn as a club fundraiser.
    

During morning prayer and pledge time, members also read summaries of people who have done something significant in terms of helping others or those who used their skill set to help others – i.e., youth activist Mari Copeny, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jonathan Daniels, Serena Williams and Cicely Tyson. They also have done readings around  Dr. Martin Luther King Day.
    

“We learn to be more sensitive to others’ cultures,” said Walker, a Dominican sophomore who is a new club member who helped tutor at the Peace Center. “Everyone is important, no matter what their hair texture, race or religion might be. … It gives us hands-on experience with other peoples’ culture and what they love and how they grew up.”
    

Maurice also offers diversity training to students who then can assist her in diversity seminars. Dominican’s dean of students, president, principal and vice president also have completed the training.
    

Maurice said new members said they were looking for a club that helped make Dominican better every year.
    

“The thing I am most proud of – that if many of our students see that any of our students are mistreated, they now know how to be allies,” Maurice said. “That is what we teach in these diversity seminars. Everyone can be an ally and help someone in some small or large way. I’ve seen it myself. Students are taking the responsibility to help one another.”
 

Student tutors help nuns
    

“I think it’s invaluable,” Dominican Sister Ceal Warner said of the volunteering the Dominican students do at the Peace Center. “They are such good role models for them.”
    

The club meets twice monthly – the second and fourth Friday of the month after school; and also has Beta Friday meetings during lunchtime for students who can’t meet after school. For details, call the SHDDA office at 309-5280.
    

Christine Bordelon can be reached at [email protected].