The Mountain West Diversity Conference is a program of Youth Celebrate Diversity. YDC is building a grassroots movement of students and educators addressing social problems, celebrating diversity and making schools safe for everyone. Their vision is that one day, every teen in America will feel safe to achieve in school, no matter who they are. This event, spear-headed by two teachers at EVHS and their Executive Committee of 13 students from Eagle County, is in its 2nd year and brings together youth from the mountain regions of Colorado. 25 schools and 260 students attended this year. Topics explored included: self-care, politics, non-violent communication, inclusivity in sports, living with a physical disability and examining biases.
Janet Casson and Mike Santambrogio from Bright Future Foundation were at the conference to accept the Inclusion Award, as voted upon by the Executive Committee of YDC. Here is what they had to say about their selection:
“Today we would like to honor an organization that embodies the spirit of inclusion. This organization truly cares about our community and the worth of a person. This organization epitomizes inclusivity.
Today we would like to present the Inclusion Award to the Bright Future Foundation.
The Bright Future Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aims to break the incredibly damaging cycle of domestic and sexual assault by providing immediate relief to families in need. In addition to their already virtuous work in assault relief, the Bright Future Foundation also provides proactive programs to help youth actualize their potential, such as Emotional Outreach/Violence Prevention and the EmpowerMENt/EmpowHERment Violence Prevention.
We see the Bright Future Foundation promoting inclusion in our community, and we appreciate the Bright Future Foundation’s role as an inclusion in the tree of Eagle County, supporting and empowering each of us to fulfill our potential.
Thank you to The Bright Future Foundation. We are so excited to honor you with this award and excited to have such an exemplary model of an inclusive organization in our community.”
