TCNJ News
For Immediate Release
May 20, 2008
Kidsbridge, TCNJ DB-FACES, TCNJ Bonner Scholars and the ERASE CLUB of Notre Dame High School will “Build Community Bridges” with students from Hun School and Trenton Community Charter Schools on Wednesday, May 21
EWING, NJ … On May 21, the Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum, the ERASE Club of Notre Dame high school, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) DB-FACES project, and TCNJ Bonner Scholars will partner with students from two different local middle schools to learn about tolerance, prejudice and diversity appreciation under a grant from both the Princeton Area Community Foundation and the Harbourton Foundation to promote community partnership and diversity; the grant is entitled “Building Community Bridges with Youth.”
All of these partners will interact with a sixth grade class from Hun School in Princeton integrated with a sixth grade class from the Trenton Community Charter School in Trenton to learn about stereotypes, Darfur and genocide, name-calling, kid heroes, sensitivity to persons with disabilities and discrimination on TCNJ’s campus Forcina Hall from 10:00 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Bonner Scholars and Notre Dame high school students from the ERASE Club will be serving as museum docents. A facilitator from DB-FACES, a project of The College of New Jersey will be teaching students about deaf and blind disabilities and the challenges that persons with disabilities face.
DB-FACES provides information & resources, training, and technical assistance regarding the issues impacting individuals who experience a combined hearing and vision impairment. DB-FACES staff has extensive experience working with students who are deafblind in their homes, schools, or community settings. Addressing statewide needs, the staff also works with families, teachers, and other professionals regarding the needs of students with deaf blindness.
Notre Dame High School's ERASE club has actively pursued the mission of ending harassment, challenging stereotypes, eliminating discrimination and promoting social inclusion. To accomplish these goals, students create and share many activities with other schools through an active outreach program. Some of the school wide campaigns to sensitize students and meet club mission goals include: Kindness Day when club members recognize acts of kindness by students and No Room In My Heart for Prejudice Day celebrated on Valentine's Day. ERASE Club projects culminate in other projects like the tile mural created for the Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum and anti-bullying skits presented to grammar schools.
The Bonner Center at TCNJ cultivates the common ground that exists between the educational mission of the College and the interests and needs of the local community. It does so by creating teaching and learning opportunities that simultaneously build the capacity of TCNJ students and community organizations in Trenton and the region.
Kidsbridge is a nonprofit organization dedicated to character education, tolerance and the celebration of human diversity. The Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum, situated on The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) campus, features the exhibit “Face to Face: Dealing with Prejudice and Discrimination,” focusing on diversity appreciation and character education. Select TCNJ students and their professors interact with approximately 2,000 elementary and middle students, day campers, Scouts and leadership groups each year. Kidsbridge is seeking more volunteers to be docents in the interactive tolerance museum on campus in Forcina Hall. For more information about the museum or to volunteer, call 609.581.0239. www.kidsbridgemuseum.org
