CCES Students Take the Lead During the 2008 PAIS Diversity Conference

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CCES Diversity Club students with (far left) Bobby Burch, Assistant to the Headmaster; Myron Harrington,
PAIS Executive Director; and (on the right) Jim Rumrill, CCES Headmaster Emeritus; Greg Hood, CCES Director
of Diversity, during the 2008 PAIS Inclusivity Conference held at Furman University’s Younts Conference Center.
Also in attendance (not pictured) was Dr. Lee Cox.

In 2006, the Palmetto Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) maked history by establishing South Carolina's first state-wide diversity conference. This year's conference was held at Furman University's, Younts Conference Center, February 10 & 11. The two-day conference included an adult conference track geared towards diversity and multicultural training for board members/trustees, school heads, parents, faculty and school administrators. The student track included dialogue and exercises designed to allow students to view their differences from new perspectives, with the goal of realizing that our differences are our strengths.

Conference Mission
We desire to foster an environment of awareness, respect and appreciation of all people. Our mission is to help create acceptance and inclusivity by embracing and celebrating our differences and our commonalities. Topics that will be addressed include: Teaching inclusiveness, exploring cultural differences and the effects of stereotypes & labeling.

The student track was facilitated by Diamond Joseph, President of the CCES Diversity Club, along with other diversity club members from around the state of South Carolina. A total of 153 students and adults from NC, SC and GA participated in the conference, which was hosted by the Palmetto Association of Independent Schools (PAIS). Major sponsors of the event included Carolina First Bank and Flik Food Service. CCES Director of Diversity Greg Hood served as a member of the PAIS Steering Committee which was responsible for the planning and implementation of the conference.

Conference Presentations
- Susan DiFabio of Beaufort Academy, “Hidden Gifts of Learning Differences”
- Head of School Marcia Spiller, Children’s School Atlanta and NAIS Board member,
..“Strategic Planning for Diversity Initiatives”
- Joseph James, Founder of the West Africa Council of South Carolina
- Mitchell Salerno, Statesville Christian School, “Teaching Inclusivity Through Societies”
- Bryan Smith of Smith Consulting, whose presentation, “Hip Hop Comes to School,” took a look at the history and culture of hip-hop music and its impact on higher learning.
- Bethany Byrne, Director of External Affairs for Beaufort Academy, “Student Diversity Training and Exercises.”

The conference concluded with a final session in which students and adults engaged in a dialogue exercise led by CCES student Diamond Joseph and other student facilitators. The exercise, known as "The Fish Bowl,” focuses on issues of school culture.

During the exercise, the adults are asked to provide feedback and comments based on a series of questions posed by the student facilitators. After each question, the adults move to the outside of the circle and the students are placed in the middle of the circle and then asked to respond to the same questions. This dialogue exercise is then transitioned into smaller school groups, where both the students and adults can discuss issues related to their own school environments and come up with creative action plans to help their schools to become more inclusive and diverse.