On Thursday February 1st, 2018, nine Waldorf School of Garden City High School students participated in the 32nd Annual Human Rights Conference at Adelphi University. Students from across Long Island gathered to discuss topics to encourage mutual understanding and respect and to explore ways to eliminate prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination.

After a keynote address by the Nassau County Executive, Laura Curran, students at the conference were given the choice of eight workshops to participate in. Each workshop tackled a different issue affecting marginalized groups in today’s world and discussed potential solutions. Topics discussed included but were not limited to:

• Interacting with the Police
• LGBTQ+ Around the World
• Immigrant Youth on Long Island
• Addressing Racism

The students found these sessions enlightening, with junior, Mia Levine expressing that, “the day was informative and eye-opening!” Junior Zoe Baker said that the event, “provided an open environment to discuss sensitive human rights topics.”

At the conference the students also reconnected with Alisty Kenneth, President of AJK Diversified, who last year presented a talk on Electronic and Online Safety to the high school. Ms. Keneth excitedly greeted the Waldorf students and they once again enjoyed a dynamic and energetic presentation from her entitled. “Hate Crimes 101.”

The conference concluded with a presentation by the Adelphi Theatre Department titled “Now You Hear Me,” a collection of music and poetry about the experience of marginalized groups. Junior, Jovawn McNeil found this presentation, “an amazing and powerful fusion of music and slam poetry that really makes you think.”