Huntington AWOD Honored by Anti-Bias Task Force
Huntington High School's A World of Difference club, which is better known by the acronym AWOD, was honored by the Suffolk County Inter-Faith Anti-Bias Task Force during a recent spring convocation and awards breakfast at the W.H. Rogers County Legislative Building in Hauppauge.
AWOD develops peer trainers that go on to help and teach others in the district and community. By exploring issues of bias and discrimination and through volunteerism at local homeless shelters and community events, AWOD members learn first-hand how to work with each other and younger students.
The Suffolk Inter-Faith Anti-Bias Task Force recognized AWOD for "exemplifying and promoting the principles of human rights, inclusion and equality" within Huntington High School and the community at large. The club was nominated by Superintendent James W. Polansky and County Legislator William Spencer.
The nomination "demonstrated that you have made significant contributions in advancing understanding and respect among students," according to a letter sent to AWOD faculty advisors Suzi Biagi and Camille DeCanio by the Rev. JoAnn Barrett and Rabbi De. Steven A. Moss, co-chairs of the Inter-Faith Anti-Bias Task Force.
"AWOD members have had a tremendously positive influence on their high school peers, and also on younger students with whom they have had the opportunity to interact," Mr. Polansky said. "The efforts put forth by the group help others to clearly recognize the significant benefits of diversity within our school community. The group's presentation at the awards ceremony impressed all in attendance, and prompted students and staff from other Suffolk districts to inquire about how they might establish a similar group in their own schools."
The goals of AWOD are:
• To help people be more accepting of others.
• To encourage volunteerism designed to assist Huntington residents with their needs.
• To raise money for various charities and school events.
• To grow as individuals in communication, human relations and leadership.
• To make our community and our world a better place.
Joining Mr. Polansky, Ms. Biagi and Ms. DeCanio at the Inter-Faith Anti-Bias Task Force annual breakfast were Huntington Principal Carmela Leonardi, freshman Kelly Tenbus, sophomore Megan Boyce, junior Kira Bergman and senior Monica Casabona. The students made one of three group presentations to the breakfast crowd and it was very well received.
"Intolerance and prejudice against persons because of their race, ethnicity, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation tear at the fabric of a democratic and pluralistic society," according to the Inter-Faith Task Force mission statement. "Acts of violence based on such bias further alienates individuals and groups and serve to rob us of the crucial sense of security we all require in order to live, work play or pray in our communities. In consideration of the destructive effects or prejudice and racism in our communities and in order to address this ongoing problem, the Suffolk County Inter-Faith Anti-Bias Task Force has been created."
A copy of AWOD's presentation at the annual breakfast is available of the Huntington School District's website at www.hufsd.edu. The Inter-Faith Anti-Bias Task Force is a non-partisan sub-committee of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission.