High School Students Gather To Ask, 'Is Race Real?'

DEARBORN – A racially diverse group of 250 high school students from throughout southeast Michigan will gather Nov. 7 for a day-long youth leadership summit on race.
Co-sponsored by New Detroit to develop strategies for improving race relations in their schools and neighborhoods, the summit will include students from 70 high schools in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. The event was planned by 25 youth members of New Detroit's Youth Leadership Team who chose the theme "Is Race Real?" and will beg the question: is race biological or a social construct?
"The future of race relations in Metro Detroit is in the hands of our young people," said New Detroit President and CEO Shirley Stancato. "Our annual Youth Leadership Summit proves that young people from all races and socio-economic backgrounds can work together to confront issues related to racial justice.
David Hunt, a nationally recognized advocate for social change, will present as the guest speaker. Hunter is known for using storytelling as a leadership tool to facilitate an environment of healing where the voices and visions of all that are gathered can be shared and heard.
"The conference allows young people to interact with a diverse group of students their age in a safe setting where they can discuss race and issues related to race," said Stancato. "It is often the first time many of our participants are in an environment where they openly discuss race in such a diverse setting and it gives them the inspiration they need to change the future of race relations by starting with their own community."
The summit will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Kochoff Hall on the University of Michigan Dearborn campus located at 4901 Evergreen Road in Dearborn.