Schools
Plymouth-Canton High School Students Celebrate Diversity
The annual event highlights different cultures and traditions.
It was a festive occasion at the Auditorium on Saturday, as the Educational Park’s continued its annual Celebration of Diversity Show.
The weekend blowout started at 4 p.m. and was part of a two-day event that began on Friday and featured performances from the Muslim Student Association, African American Student Association, Gay and Straight Alliance, Asian-Pacific American Club, Middle Eastern Student Association, Indian American Student Association and the Break Dancing Club.
Co-President of the Diversity Council, Aisha Reyman, called the observance an "enrichment of different cultures and traditions."
Open to the public and free to children 14 and under, the $5 price of admission included crayons (for the kiddies), a skit, a step show, impromptu comic relief and a medley of dance.
Participant Mahum Ahmed, 17, described the program as a wonderful way to bring Canton, Plymouth and Salem high schools together.
“I think it’’s really great,” said Ahmed. “Everyone talks about diversity, but the schools get to come together and celebrate what’s different about them.”
Senior Adam Rice, 17, agreed. He added that the event is a chance for everyone to see different cultures and experience differences.
“People who wouldn’t normally hang out, come together and put on a great show.”
According to Diversity Council Adviser Kathleen Churchill, who wore a black t-shirt with the statement --"We could learn a lot from crayons. All are different colors but they learn to live in the same box," -- while the event is a celebration of diversity groups, the purpose of the Diversity Council is to promote acceptance.
“We help to open up a dialogue about differences and accepting different cultures," Churchill said.
The Diversity Council participates in local dialogue events and recently attended the Michigan Round Table.
Churchill, who stepped in as council adviser this year, explained that the organization was founded over 12 years ago by Salem high school's newly-appointed Assistant Principal Allie Suffety.
Suffety, previously an Alternative Education Teacher at Salem high school, said that he started the Diversity Council with Alternative Education Coordinator Lynn Sandman when they noticed a change in demographics.
“Because of Mazda, there was an Asian influx, and we felt the need for a diversity program.”
While no longer the adviser for the Diversity Council, Suffety has now taken on an initiative to work on the school’s achievement disparity among its African-American male students.
"We are working on the elements and structure of the curriculum to make it more culturally relevant."
Suffety added that while they are starting within their own leadership, using what he called “courageous conversation”, they have also partnered with community mentors through the Plymouth-Canton Center for Diversity Inclusion.
Proceeds from the Diversity Celebration will benefit the ongoing efforts of the P-CEP Diversity Council.
