February 2, 2008

Greetings:

It is my pleasure to welcome everyone gathered here for the 15th annual Cherry Creek Diversity Conference. Best regards to all of you.

As our nation is committed to the ideals of equality and diversity, this celebration and its participants serve as shining examples of what each of us can accomplish when we set aside our differences and focus on what we share in common. What makes this conference even greater and all the more unique is that it is planned by youth from all backgrounds.

The evidence continues to mount that healing in our communities depends on a shared understanding. This understanding is based upon real dialogue—one-on-one. And I want to underscore the word "real." I believe that real, honest and forthright dialogue changes people because talking with one another and engaging one another across barriers we’ve created—all of the cultural, social and racial lines—this kind of dialogue changes people because it challenges all of the stereotypes we’ve created. Real dialogue allows us to gain a greater appreciation of one another and it allows us to celebrate our differences. But more importantly it allows us to celebrate our similarities—those things that unite us as a people.

Your conference goals of providing an opportunity for students from public and private, large and small, urban and rural schools to share ideas in a cooperative atmosphere, while establishing a supportive network of students, faculty and administrators committed to carrying out these goals is admirable. This year’s theme, “Be the Ripple in the World,” reinforces these goals. I send my congratulations to each and every attendee for all their hard work and for the roots of change that will grow and become stronger. Best wishes for a successful conference.

Sincerely,

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