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By Rama K. Ramaswamy
The World of Wellesley was founded in 1991 by Wellesley resident, Tere Tedesco. Since then, it has spearheaded the discussion about diversity via a variety of interactive programs. According to World Of Wellesley, “the principal purpose [of WoW] is to provide opportunities to experience and celebrate various kinds of diversity, such as cultural, economic, religious, racial and ethnic. WoW works to promote communication and understanding among people of diverse backgrounds, including creating an atmosphere in which all citizens may live with some sense of security and acceptance”.
The Wellesley Community Center has continued to host WoW since it’s debut meeting 25 years ago. Henderson Hall was packed and under its soft chandelier lighting, the greater Wellesley community gathered by 8:30 a.m. for refreshments, registration and an ice-breaker. As part of the morning, before the 9 a.m. introduction and keynote address by Kalise Wornum, Director of Wellesley METCO K-12, some guidelines and discussion prompt questions were passed around.
“Please be respectful, share space,” the crowd was told. “Everyone must have the opportunity to speak. Please speak using ‘I’ statements. Agree to disagree; move out of your comfort zone. Discuss the following questions: what is one thing you learned today about Wellesley METCO? Did you connect to anyone’s story? What does Wellesley METCO mean to you? What can you do to make Wellesley METCO’s vision a reality? Describe in one word how you are feeling (go around the table).”
Artist Robert Shetterly’s “Americans Who Tell The Truth” series of paintings were available for purchase as cards. Shetterly’s series focused on how “democracy cannot work unless truth is told to the citizens. The consent of the governed means nothing if it is won by fear and deceit. Dissent is the duty of the American people until the country lives up to its own promises of equality and justice.” This series of Shetterly’s works - as well as a chance to meet him in person - were sponsored by WoW and its President, Michelle Chalmers, the evening prior to the Third Annual Diversity Summit.
At 9:30 a.m., the panel conversation and dialogue with current students, parents, faculty and community members got on its way. By 11 a.m., facilitated table conversations started up and continued until just after 1:15 p.m. Attendees included over five officers from the Wellesley Police Department, Senator Richard J. Ross, David Podell (President of MassBay Community College), Layli Maparyan (Executive Director, Wellesley College Centers for Women), and many more. Christopher McMullen, Facilitator for Class Action, commented about the positive presence of Wellesley police officers, both within the community and as attendees for the Summit.
Kalise Wornum announced that 2016 is the 50th anniversary of the METCO program, which “continues to built bridges across communities.” Lunch was served by 1:30 p.m., during which the discussion continued among smaller groups of attendees.
World of Wellesley, Inc., also partners with Wellesley Public Schools; many teachers along with Superintendent David Lussier were in attendance. Lussier’s sentiments were as follows: “On behalf of the Wellesley Public Schools, I welcome the role that the World of Wellesley plays to help ensure that our community is a welcoming and inclusive place for all residents. This year, with so much national discourse focused on racial divisions, the work of the World of Wellesley has never been more important. To this end, we appreciate having such as strong community partner to reinforce our core values of cooperative and caring relationships and respect for human differences.”
For more about WOW go to: www.worldofwellesley.org.
