The Upper School committee expressed a need for a communal experience. Inspired by the book Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, the Upper School Diversity Committee decided to create a day around issues of socio-economic differences, human rights issues, and an emphasis on poverty on a local, national and global scale with a focus on advocacy. “Human Rights Day this year was created and developed with the help of 15 students from all grades who were instrumental in making the day provocative, informative and fun. It was, by far, our most successful event in this area in a long time thanks to student input and effort,” said one faculty organizer, Sunny Greenberg.
 
Students watched a movie clip from "A Day’s Work, A Day’s Pay" and discussed it with their advisories.  They also played a board game designed by art teacher, Steve Baris, called $7/hr, which was based on what it might be like to live on a budget based on earning minimum wage. An opening presentation was made by Rev. Mary Laney of Vicar of St. Gabriel’s Mission Church on Roosevelt Boulevard  in the city.  She is a founder of Urban Bridges, an organization teaching literacy to adults, English as a Second Language, and standard school courses to high school students whose high schools are in effect holding pens rather than educational institutions.  Discussion groups were moderated by a diverse group of individuals from throughout the area, including alumnus Brian Halloran 02’, who in a year off before college, has been a volunteer at Mozambique University, working to develop programs for the people. Some other contributors included, Katie Tobin, a Villanova student who sponsors  Bread for the World, a faith based, national citizens organization dedicated to reducing hunger in US and Third World countries; and Leiticia Egea-Hinton, Director of Emergency Shelter Services for the City of Philadelphia.  
 
Human Right’s Day dove-tailed with a visit from Gary Howard, author, activist, and speaker on diversity and multicultural issues. One faculty member commented, “The most valuable part of today’s session was Gary himself: his passion was contagious and he invited us to get real and he provided a great starting point for further discussion.”
 
As teachers and students reflected on these two programs, it was clear that a lot of information had been shared;  information that would stay with an individual to think about for a long time to come. As one faculty member reflected on her experience during Human Rights Day, it was clear that all the planning of the committees had indeed accomplished what they set out to do. “It was the perfect balance of information and digestion time. The day was beautifully and thoughtfully organized and the students were fully engaged.”
 
February 2004