Diversity Council on Global Education and Citizenship
Supporting the Holocaust Resource Center in achieving its goal of global education and engagement is the Diversity Council on Global Education and Citizenship of Kean University.
Founded in 1990, the Council collaborates with Kean’s College of Education and provides more than 130 member school districts with opportunities that empower educators to create safe, inclusive learning environments for all students by providing Common Core-aligned professional development.
The Council fosters the continued growth of active and compassionate individuals in order to reduce intolerance, and harassment/intimidation, and promote social justice in a democratic society.
The Council hosts annual elementary, middle, and high school conferences, as well as leadership seminars. These professional development sessions explore diversity-related themes including bullying, Holocaust and genocide education, civil rights, and confronting human rights abuses.
To learn more about membership, please email Sarah Coykendall, Managing Assistant Director, at coykends@kean.edu
Click here for the Google Form Diversity Council Membership Application
Digital Library: Representation in the Classroom
In spring 2021, the Holocaust Resource Center/Diversity Council hosted Amelia Francois, a senior majoring in Speech-Language Pathology, as its 2021 LEAP Scholar. LEAP (Learn, Earn, and Persist) Scholars are students who participate in “give-back” projects and are located on Kean Union, Kean Ocean, Kean Skylands, or WKU campuses. Eligible LEAP recipients will be placed in project sites based on merits and matches for the appointment.
Amelia curated a digital library, identifying books for K-12 readers that feature a diverse range of experiences and cultures, including exceptionalities, non-traditional family structures, and foreign languages.
Listen to Amelia share her inspiration for the project, and check out the digital library. Great job, Amelia!
Student Leadership Conferences
The Diversity Council offers two student leadership conferences during the academic year that engage students in discussions on diversity, inclusivity, social justice, being an upstander, and more. Our High School Leadership Conference is held in November and our Middle/Elementary Leadership Conference is held in March, both of which take place at the main Kean University campus. At each program, students hear from a keynote speaker and have the opportunity to ask questions and consider their personal connections to the keynote theme. In addition, participants work collaboratively with students from different school districts to learn about the experiences of others and to promote equity, inclusion, and understanding in their school districts and communities. To learn more about these conferences and to bring your students, please email Sarah Coykendall, Managing Assistant Director, at coykends@kean.edu.
In 2019, our High School Leadership Conference keynote was Kizito Kalima, a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide and founder of the Peace Center for Forgiveness and Reconciliation. For 2020, our Middle/Elementary School Conference keynote was Catarina Guimaraes, a current high school adaptive athlete, and two-time published author. Information on next year's keynote speakers will be available soon.
"The whole [student leadership] conference was so enlightening and nothing I've ever experienced before. It was meaningful to me because it helped me value my life and others more by hearing all their stories. I joined our diversity club at school because of the positive energy exerted by the club leaders and I felt that same energy throughout the whole event. I've always struggled with feeling included and self-confident around others but during the event, I was able to tell my story to people who listened, even though they were strangers. Overall it was just a great experience to be surrounded by my peers who wanted to learn and express themselves the same way I did. Thank you for presenting the opportunity to the club." (Student, Watchung Hills Regional High School)
The Joy Prescott Humanitarian Award
The Joy Prescott Humanitarian Award was established by the Holocaust Resource Center and Council on Global Education and Citizenship to honor Joy Prescott, a beloved Kean University employee, upon her retirement. Ms. Prescott dedicated more than 30 years of service to students and educators through her passion for diversity training, community building, and Holocaust education.
The Joy PrescottHumanitarian Award for Student Leadership and Dedication is presented at our Student Leadership Conference. The award is presented to a student leader committed to diversity, inclusivity, and the pursuit of social justice.
Nominees must be a student at a Diversity Council member site and have demonstrated evidence of leadership roles, community involvement, or activism. Applications must include a letter of support from the student’s current or previous teacher.
The Joy Prescott Humanitarian Award 2021 Winners
Rin Gatley - Student Advocates for Equality (SAFE) "We are the Change!" - Delaware Valley Regional High School
Hunter Leeds - Student Advocates for Equality (SAFE) "We are the Change!" - Delaware Valley Regional High School
Sophia Delrosario - Zenerations.org - High Tech High School, Hudson County Schools of Technology
Gowri Nair - For their work in leadership, advocacy, and social justice. - Hillsborough High School
Angelique Dinnall - President of the Nation above Nations and Chinese International Club - Jackson Liberty High School
Dhruv Shah - Co-President of North Brunswick Township High School Human Rights Coalition and Co-Founder of It's All Political - North Brunswick Township High School
Natalie Tom - President of North Brunswick Township High School Human Rights Coalition - North Brunswick Township High School
Derek Gil - For their work in leadership, service, and inclusivity. - Abraham Clark High School
Raegan Miller - Diversity Club President and Warriors United Against Hate - Watchung Hills Regional High School
Pearl Davis - For their work as a leader and community ambassador. - Rahway High School
"Rahway High School Student Receives Prestigious Humanitarian Award" -- Article from Tap Into Rahway
The 2021 Fritz Jonach Upstander Award
Congratulations to the 2021 Award Winners!
- North Brunswick Township High School Human Rights Coalition: Power of the Untold Story
- Paige Carbone, Cranford High School Senior: Gender-Neutral Graduation Gowns
- Sparta C3 Culture and Climate Committee, the Sparta Diversity Council, and the "We Are the Dream" Student Club, Sparta High School: Racial Equity Vlog Project: Our Voices United
- JCC of Central NJ - D.E.I. Department Challenge: "Turn Knowledge into Action!"
Fritz Jonach was a dedicated humanitarian, teacher and coach from Millburn High
School who was an active member of the Kean University Diversity Council. After
his sudden passing, a memorial award was established in his name. The award
criteria is based on implementing the Diversity Council on Global Education and
Citizenship’s mission statement into a project that encouraged civic engagement
and worked to create a culture of upstanders in their school.
"What Makes a Virtual Upstander?"
In Spring 2020, Students from Watchung Hills Regional High School's Diversity Club and Black Student Union shared their perspective on "What Makes a Virtual Upstander?" Watchung Hills Regional High School is a longstanding member of the Diversity Council on Global Education and Citizenship and their students attend our annual High School Leadership Conference.
Click here for "What Makes a Virtual Upstander?"