By Carmen Melendez, East Cobb County Council of PTAs
PTA, as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the well-being of all students, has historically cared about and devoted time to issues related to diversity and inclusion. PTA understands and embraces the uniqueness of all individuals; and recognizes that each student possesses unique points of view, based on his/her culture, traditions, and values. This PTA priority committee is titled Diversity & Inclusion in recognition of its dual purpose: celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion.
Over the past few years, East Cobb has experienced a large influx of people from all over the world. These families have chosen East Cobb as a place to live and raise their families due to its proximity to global-based businesses and its reputation for outstanding schools. As a result, a variety of diversity programs have been implemented in our public schools. One good example is Kincaid Elementary School’s “WorldExplorers Club.” This club began in 2009, with a participation of 50 students, and has steadily increased student participation to 78 students in this past school year.
Approximately 15 to 20 parents participate and contribute to the success of this program. As a result, students have the opportunity to learn and embrace a variety of cultures from countries such as China, Russia, India, Korea, Brazil, New Zealand, Spain, Ireland, Italy, France, Ukraine, and Argentina. In an ever-changing globalized world, school activities that focus on promoting diversity have proven to be highly beneficial for both American students and also foreign ones. It provides students the opportunity to gain first hand exposure to different cultures. Secondly, it allows students and parents to share their unique cultural background and history.
The second purpose of this committee is inclusion. This refers to encouraging the school atmosphere to be more open and cooperative. In this manner, the students feel like they fit in. Sometimes due to physical or a mental challenges, race, religion or socioeconomic differences, students may feel alienated. This can bring a sense of hurt and pain, and can make students prone to bullying and depression. PTA’s stance is to celebrate the unique value of every student. Every time a student learns from a diverse culture it enriches his/her life experience and increases his/her emotional intelligence. This provides students with the confidence and skill sets to empower themselves as they mature and go through life’s challenges. If you would like more information about our priority committee, please visit our website www.ecccpta.org.
(Carmen Melendez has been an East Cobb resident since 2003. She has two children, a fifth grader at Kincaid Elementary School and an eighth grader at Dodgen Middle School. She graduated in Law from UAM in Madrid, and also obtained a Ph.D in Spanish Linguistics in 2009. Currently she is the committee chair for Diversity and Inclusion for the East Cobb County Council of PTAs. Along with her extensive volunteering in PTA, she enjoys writing academic papers, photography and traveling.)
