At Pebblebrook, like many American schools, the minority student population is growing rapidly. We're trying to help children build bridges. Pegram selected this group of 34 students from peer nominations. What we want to do here is to instill confidence in these kids so they can step up and take leadership roles. Once back at Pebblebrook, the kids from Anytown help promote diversity through student assemblies, activities, and monthly meetings with administrators and teachers.
Students move from mixed pairs to small groups to larger ones and finally to a nightly mass meeting.
Two weeks after the Rodney King verdict and the LA riots, there was a lot to talk about. Topics ranged from police and prejudice to family and friends. During one group session, students puzzled over the self-segregation in classrooms and the school's cafeteria. In another, they criticized the media's portrayal of black people. A debate on affirmative action brewed in one of the groups.