Diversity in Youth celebration held at CAMS

Franklin County Dairy Princess Stephanie Hykes was a presenter at the Diversity in Youth.

Diversity in Youth Celebration to be held Friday to benefit the Chambersburg Area Middle School Sixth Grade Students

Chambersburg Area Middle School held its second annual Diversity in Youth Celebration. On Friday, Oct. 20, the CAMS gymnasium hosted nearly 25 exhibits. The various exhibits represented world lifestyles, cultures, traditions, customs and other differences. The sixth-grade students had the opportunity to ask questions about the different cultures, participated in activities, taste foods from around the world, and took a shot at a wheel chair obstacle course.

Diversity in Youth Celebration is an opportunity for students to gain an appreciation for the diverse student groups attending the Chambersburg Area School District. The multicultural activities of the day focused on several of the most prevalent minority groups in the Chambersburg area, which include Asian, African American, Hispanic and European.

Diversity in Youth, established in 2004, by a group of Leadership Franklin County graduates, was created to heighten the awareness among our youth of the value of different cultures and races within our own community.

The population and cultures of our local communities are changing ever so rapidly. While all of us are susceptible to these changes, our children are the ones who are having the most difficulty because they are uneducated about other cultures. Many do not understand cultural diversity and become discriminatory, prejudice, and at times, violent towards children of other races, religions, and cultures.

The assembly is funded entirely on community support. Agrant from the Chambersburg Education Foundation provided a big part in the funding for the assembly. Local businesses such as D. L. Martin and Ventura Foods have also sponsored the event with a monetary contribution. Other local organizations such as Wilson College, Graphics Universal, Smith Elliott Kearns & Co., LLC, M & T Bank and many more are supporting the event by donations of food, volunteers, and items to provide for the students.

For more information about the Diversity in Youth Celebration, contact Melissa Schad, cochair of the DIY Committee at (717) 360-6747.