racial equity

The Diversity Awareness and Leadership Training (DALT) program is a community-based, year-round social change and leadership program offered to Kalamazoo, MI area youth, free of charge. By creatively addresses issues of racism and bigotry in schools – traditionally the most intolerant institutions – young people will be develop the skills to change this cycle.

While the DALT program operates year-round at each of its participating schools, a core group of students is selected to participate in a 4-day intensive workshop with students from other schools. During this workshop, students participate in powerful experiential activities designed to educate one another on the challenges they face every day such as bullying and prejudice. Students develop creative ways to take their knowledge and skills back to the community. Back in school, DALT students meet regularly and host social action programs for fellow students – honest dialogues about the self-imposed segregation in lunch rooms, boundary-breaking activities and community-building activities within their schools. As the young people create genuine friendships between  diverse social groups, the project work is proving that real social change is possible.