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Diversity Research Laboratory organizes On July 12, 2003, the Diversity Research Laboratory has organized an urban immersion program for a group of high school students from Cyprus. Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean involved in an ongoing conflict
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In an effort to bridge the gap between
these communities, the American Embassy in Nicosia in conjunction with
AMIDEAST organized a two-week (July 6 to July 20) U.S-based program for
thirty 15 year-old students from each of two conflicting Cypriot communities.
The objective of the program was to develop intercommunal relationships
between the youth through the development and application of skills in
intercultural communication, conflict resolution, and cultural sensitivity,
so that they could become ambassadors of peaceful coexistence within their
Cypriot communities. NinthEdge - an experiential education organization from Gracelake, IL organized an Adventure*Challenge*Transformation program for the youth that included low and high ropes adventure and rock climbing activities in Wisconsin and a backcountry wilderness expedition to the boundary waters canoe area in northern Minnesota. Diversity Research Laboratory organized "Lessons from multi-ethnic Chicago neighborhoods" part of the program that was intended to expose students to inter-ethnic relations in the city of Chicago, familiarize them with local issues and show them how intergroup tensions are being resolved in the United States. The program that took place on Saturday, July 12 included several components: First, our Lab members (Dr. Monika Stodolska, Dr. Carla Santos, Jouyeon
Yi) took the 30 students, two escorts from Cyprus, and three NinthEdge
staff members on a tour of ethnic communities in Chicago (Chinatown, Pilsen/Little
Village, and Humboldt Park). Students had a chance to tour those communities
while the DRL members described the history of immigration of various
ethnic groups to the U.S. and Chicago, as well as the history and current
problems of those communities. Second, in cooperation with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations
DRL has organized a workshop to analyze the inter-ethnic relations within
one of the most mixed neighborhoods of Chicago - Logan Square, Humboldt
Park and West Town. The workshop, that took place at St. Sylvester's Roman
Catholic Church, included presentations and discussion with members of
the Chicago Commission on Human Relations (Max DeZutter and Peter Kostakis)
on the intergroup work of the Commission, interracial coexistence and
ethnic conflict resolution at the city level and the role of Chicago government
in facilitating the process. Students watched a video prepared as a part
of the cultural sensitivity training program of the Chicago Police Department.
Subsequently, Alderman Rey Colon (35th) and Alderman Emma Mitts (37th)
spoke about representing diverse constituents and building inter-ethnic
relationships.
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©Diversity Research Laboratory |
Lastly,
Greek and Turkish Cypriot students had a lunch in a Puerto Rican restaurant
in Humboldt Park during which they met with Pablo Medina - another member
of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations who talked about local issues
in Humboldt Park community that cause inter-groups tensions (such as the
violent conflict over the use of recreational space that occurred between
Mexicans and Puerto Ricans) and how the community and the City of Chicago
addresses those friction points.