Students’ stories foster understanding through diversity

Harold Scott
Staff Writer

Stories can bridge gaps that separate people due to misunderstandings of race, culture, religion or any other way we find to build walls between ourselves and others.

Hudson Valley’s program series “Tellabrate Diversity,” which began last Tuesday, was created for students to share their stories.

One young woman in attendance shared that she grew up in Guyana, South America. Though there were people that looked different, came from different countries and practiced different religions, she never experienced prejudice.

“We were one,” she said. “I heard about ‘diversity’ here in America.”

Hudson Valley chaplain Michelle Thivierge organized the event after being inspired by Interfaith Harmony Week, which was originally initiated by the United Nations.

Many people agree in a post-9/11 world, there is a need to learn about and embrace different cultures. These presentations are opportunities to do this on campus, Thivierge explained.

“Find a friend, meet somebody and go out of your way to hear [his or her] story,” said Marni Gillard, who hosted Tuesday’s gathering. “Through stories, we see ourselves as if in a mirror.”

Gallard taught at Niskayuna Middle School. She is also an author, conference speaker and professional storyteller.

“Story and song have been very important to my education,” she added.

Gallard believes fear is what’s really driving today’s terrorism, and that we simply cannot overcome our differences by ignoring the diversity of people, cultures and religions. For more information on Gallard, visit her website at marnigallard.com.

Chaplain Thivierge invited all to take part, listen or share a little of their own story. She also provided a warning through a smile.

“You do this, and you’ll be ruined for life,” Thivierge said. “Once your eyes see something, once your brain knows something, once it becomes part of your heart, you can never un-see it or un-know it or un-feel it.”

She continued, “Once you see the real circumstances for social justice outside of facts or figures or a survey — when we really get to know it — you can never unlearn that! The question then becomes, ‘What do you do with what you’ve learned? How do you choose to be in the world because of what you know?’”

The next meeting was scheduled for this past Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. outside of Siek Campus Center Room 210. The meeting will feature the screening of the documentary film “Of Many”.