La Voz Nueva
February 8, 2008

by Bertha Velasquez

On Saturday February 2, more than 1,000 students from over 82 high schools across Colorado participated in the 15th Annual Diversity Conference at Cherry Creek High School. The event was comprised of discussion groups and workshops. Students were welcomed with an opening ceremony that included a performance by members of the Mundra Dance Studio. Maria Guajardo, Executive Director for Education and Children for the City and County of Denver, delivered the keynote presentation, "Your Leadership Will Shape the World." Also, the Denver Urban Ministries, DenUM, was awarded the 2008 Human Rights Award in recognition for their work with families in need.

The Cherry Creek Diversity Conference was organized by members of the executive committee that includes students who come from schools across the state and meet at Cherry Creek High School. Azin Kheirandish, senior at Lakewood High School, and Maria Angermayr, senior at Cherry Creek High School, are members of the executive committee and were co-chairs of the conference. Both spoke about their involvement with the Executive Committee and their participation in the development of Saturday’s event. Angermayr became involved with the conference during her sophomore year and Kheirandish attended her first conference four years ago and was the committee’s Secretary last year.

Angermayr said that by having events such as these, students get to explore the "many different issues from other schools." Kheirandish also believes it is important to "get kids involved from as many schools as possible." Kheirandish also said her work with the committee and with the event, has taught her to be more accepting of other’s differences. "Just being here has taught me to be more accepting of how people express themselves and what they believe and the way they are," says Kheirandish.

The Executive Committee was also responsible for the development of the topics and issues that were discussed in workshops during the event such as sexual orientation, gender, religion, and issues pertaining to teens.

Some of the workshops included Combating Prejudice, Transgender 101, Understanding Latino Stereotypes, Understanding Islam and Living Latino. Schools that participated at the event included Cherry Creek, Highlands Ranch, ThunderRidge, Grandview, Lakewood, Greeley West, and George Washington High School among others.

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