Stories about Diversity Circles
First Diversity Circle of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Community
Back row left to right: Antonio Mozo, Peggy Pitz, facilitator, Jean Rausch, Joan Neumann, Luar Marie Rosado, Sue Karbon, Jan Schramm, Bobbi Schuetze, facilitator. Front row left to right: Alberto Mediano, Pedro Cuba, Itchel Mozo, Karlita Mozo.
Missing from picture: Randy Bonde.
Peggy Pitz is a woman on the go!
Peggy Pitz is a woman on the go, active in many Manitowoc organizations.
In 2006, she participated in Diversity Training for Facilitators.
Why did she decide to get involved? She wanted to learn more about
the people and cultures of Manitowoc, and she wanted to share that
learning with others. Peggy hoped it would lead to understanding,
then to acceptance, making Manitowoc a stronger and better community.
Shes facilitated a variety of circles, meeting at La De Da Books,
St. Thomas the Apostle church in Newton, as well as two at Holy Family
Memorial Hospital. The groups share personal thoughts, stories, concerns
and ideas. One of the highlights of the circles is when the participants
bring ethnic foods representing their heritage. There is such pride
as they explain the foods and might add, fun to watch as people taste
it!
She also became aware of the struggles of participants, from a young
Hmong immigrant to an older native of Manitowoc. In the young mans case, he came to the U.S. from a refugee camp and lived several places before he found a welcoming community where he felt he could belong. The older man talked about the struggles he saw growing up here with divisions between the north and south side, Polish versus Irish, and other conflicts. Yet in each case, the group learned from the others struggles.
Peggy encourages others to participate in Diversity Circles as a means of learning and communicating with a variety of cultures. It is a wonderful opportunity for growth in relationships as well as growth in self-understanding.
When I was a handsome boy (my mom said that) my mom told me that I should play with the neighboring children. For my mother it was always important that I knew the neighbors and that they knew me, because I would have more friends, I would feel more secure as we got to know each other. She told me that all together are like a big family. The Diversity Circle reminded me of those old times in that it was improtant to know people that surround you and to look for a harmony through friendship. Diversity Circles, in fact, offer us the opportunity to understand, to communicate and to value each other as good neighbors, always in search of the common good. Today, as in the years of my childhood, I am happy to know and to stretch out my hands to new friends. It continues to be fun discovering new friends in our parish.
~ Antonio Mozo
As a result of participation in this group, I find myself much more conscious of potentially racial and/or discriminatory situations than I was previously. For example, I was previewing a video about troubled schools and found myself being troubled that almost all of the schools they showed had a predominantly black student body. I am sure there must be schools with a white population that are equally troubled! I might not have been quite so conscious of that before participating in the Circle - just one example!
~ Sr. Catherine
As a minority, Hmong American, I was glad I was asked to participate in the Diversity Circle because I learned that not only the minority folks suffered the pains when it comes to discrimination and unfair treatments within our society, but most of the majority folks, too.
Therefore, I am glad we have the Diversity Circle as well as many open-minded community leaders right here in Manitowoc who are willing to make diversity the learning priority in our community.
~ Jay Xiang
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