Thunder Bay students learn skills for social change

Over 120 student leaders from a number ofnorthwestern Ontario school boards recently gathered in Thunder Bay for two days to discuss how to be leaders in social change.

They were taking part in the Harmony Movement'ssocial changemakersconference.

The Harmony Movement isan Ontario program which offers interactive workshops on diversity and equity. It encourages teenagers to discuss social issues like stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and racism.

The Thunder Bay conference encouraged Grade7 to 12 students to think critically and to talk about the difficulties and complexities of social change, said the movement's spokespersonRima Dib.

"It's about leadership to make social change in their communities. Being able to think about and reflect on what are the problems that exist. That would be step one." she said, adding that students are then encouraged to reflecton the root causes of those problems.

Students were also asked to find ways they could respond to various situations either with charity or social change, said Dib.

The conference taught Thunder Bay high school student Rae Corsun about social topics like privilege and inequality.

She said she also learned the difference between equity and equality.

"Equality means giving everyone the same thing. Equity means, for instance, that for a disabled person, they would have to make accommodations... for them."

Students attending the conference came from the following district school boards:

• Keewatin Patricia District School Board
• Lakehead Public Schools
• The Northwestern Catholic District School Board
• Rainy River District School Board
• Superior Greenstone District Board

The conference ran Wednesday April 1 and Thursday April 2.