Youth "Live United" Through Diversity
What is diversity? "It is the difference in cultures." Joe Morrow. "It is the difference among people." Lynette Germaine. "It is special differences between individuals that make everyone who they are, on the inside and out." Penny Efthymiou.
While these answers are correct in defining diversity, they are so textbook oriented. It is very difficult for today’s youth to actually understand diversity. Partially because ignorance and stereotypes are everywhere we turn, and mostly because no one bothers to teach them.
This changed for members of Youth Leadership on Saturday, September 20, as they attended the 15th Annual Pitney Bowes Diversity Festival. This event held every September at the Pitney Bowes Inc. in Shelton helps bring together the community, employees of Pitney Bowes and their customers to find commonalities among themselves and become educated on a variety of cultures, religions, and races. From 10:00am to 2:00pm families can come learn about diversity through games, informational booths, listening to the live music, food, and talking with the others in attendance. Youth Leadership members not only participated in the educational side of this event but they also helped run it, by organizing children’s face painting, passing out helium balloons, and playing hopscotch.
Throughout the day Youth Leaders saw the variety of people that attended Diversity Festival 2008. As they volunteered their time working with the children, they were in amazement at the numerous cultures of families that worked for Pitney Bowes. Indian, African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, Latino, Asian and the list goes on.
By the conclusion of the event, Youth Leaders learned the importance of diversity and how crucial a role it plays in their future. "An event like this brings people closer. It was a great experience for me to be here. I want to go into New York City for college and that’s one of the most diverse places in the world." Joe Morrow. "This event was a learning experience for me. I love volunteering, which is why I got involved, but it will also help me talk to other people in the future. It is all about learning and having fun and it is never too young to start." said Colleen Holt. These students found a new appreciation for diversity and a deeper passion for volunteering in their community. "It was a great time. My favorite part was seeing everyone so happy! I was helping hand out balloons to kids and they were so excited when I handed it to them. I think that everyone should get involved in something like this because diversity affects everyone no matter what." Tim Geer.
For some the event was a realization. "My eyes are open to see more around me. I am further aware of cultures and traditions that will help eliminate ignorance and facilitate interaction with different people." Jaime-Rose. For others, the Diversity Festival hit closer to home. "Coming from a different country, I love my Greek culture. But I want to be able to see the world! I was so excited to be here and learn about other cultures. If my dad had it his way I would talk to, date, and marry a Greek man. I struggle with him all the time about being around different people, seeing as I’m close to someone Spanish. To be honest I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love knowing what’s out there." Penny Efthymiou.
William Bubbico, Vice President of Business Transformation at Pitney Bowes, enjoyed having Youth Leadership there to help. "The Diversity Festival is a great opportunity for Youth Leadership to see how community transcends through a corporation and back out to them. It’s like the circle of life." You have to put something into your community in order to receive something back and that is exactly what Youth Leadership did. "It gives them an appreciation for volunteering and teaches them the responsibility and value that goes along with it." said Bubbico.
In our society diversity is playing a more crucial role than ever. People come from all over the world, products that we use in everyday life are being manufactured in foreign countries, and careers are entering a global communication network. These students learned an important lesson at the Diversity Festival, our society is made up of so many different cultures that we need to accept. Now that Youth Leadership is educated on this subject they can take it back to their school and spread their knowledge. One step at a time we can be come a culturally diverse accepting nation. Pitney Bowes has been doing an outstanding job in trying to promote diversity through there partnerships with the National Urban League, National Black MBA, National Society of Hispanic MBA, Executive Leadership Council, Society of Women Engineers, and National Society of Black Engineers and has been recognized for their efforts by receiving a multitude of awards for Best Company for Diversity.
