The annual STOP Conference gives the next generation of students a chance to make a change. More than 200 middle and high school students from 23 Capital Region schools gathered at Siena College on Friday for the 2016 STOP Conference.
The acronym STOP stands for Students Together Opposing Prejudice. This event brings together young students with representatives from the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® to discuss the topics of diversity and acceptance. The students participate in workshops to discuss the overall theme, as well as how they can make strides towards promoting acceptance in their own schools and communities.
Paul Murray, Ph.D., chair of Siena’s Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series Advisory Board and professor of sociology, opened up the day by speaking of his own experience at a similar event.
“This was the very first time that I had a chance to sit down and talk with people who came from very different backgrounds than my own. I can say honestly that that conference changed the course of my life. I hope that you will be able to experience something similar.”
After a morning of small group discussion, the students gathered together to create strategies on how to put the lessons they learned into action.
Nico Petel and his peers from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School plan to coordinate an assembly and school-wide diversity day to discuss how their school and community can promote positivity and acceptance. Other groups discussed creating mentoring programs, bringing in alumni as guest speakers and implementing social programs to introduce classmates to one another.
“We hope that you learn strategies to bring back and share with your community, your classmates and your schools about ways to combat bigotry and prejudice that you see every day,” said Beth Martinez, associate project director of the ADL Albany office.
Area Philanthropists and business leaders Neil and Jane Golub, who work closely with the ADL in the Capital Region and support this annual program, were in attendance to see the success of the events of the day.
In the evening, Siena hosted the annual MLK Art and Writing Invitational Reception and Celebration. This event showcased the artwork of 300 elementary and high school students from throughout the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. Three local students were honored as recipients of the 2016 Student Courage Award. Kunika Chahal, a senior at Mohonasen High School (Schenectady County); Aleena Khan, a senior at Pine Bush High School in Pine Bush (Ulset County); and Nico Petel, a junior at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School (Saratoga County) received this annual award.
“These two events are a wonderful reflection of both the ideals of Dr. King, and the values of the Franciscan community of Siena College,” said Murray. “Embracing people for who they are, regardless of their race or ethnicity, and treating everyone as equal human beings is critically important.”
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