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Stamford School System recognized for Outstanding
Multicultural Achievement for 4th Quarter, 2007
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., USA (March 18, 2008). MBC Global, an international cultural
organization today announced the winner of Quarterly Multicultural Achievement Award for the fourth quarter of 2007.
The honor goes to Stamford Public Schools of Stamford, Connecticut, USA, for taking an innovative approach to
diversity in the classroom.
The school board, under the leadership of it’s president, Martin Levine, decided to take a socio-economic approach to
school integration. They focused on three specific criteria: participants in the free/reduced lunch program, students living
in income restricted housing, and ESL students. The school board felt they will achieve a diverse population without
making ethnicity an issue.
Levine said the district has multiple ethnicities in each of these socio-economic distinctions. Levine pointed out, “The
English as a Second Language program, as an example, has students from Polish, Haitian, and Albanian backgrounds,
though most of the students are Hispanic.”
Stamford has a growing middle and upper class African-American and Asian populations however the school system is
frustrated because the African-American middle class is more likely to select private schooling. “They are leaving because
they feel their children are not being challenged,” said Levine.
He cited concerns that all minority or all poor schools lead to red-lining or steering by realtors. Problems are also created
by low-income schools as Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTO) have less dollars with which to work as school boosters.
Studies show that by de-emphasizing race while keeping a balanced student body creates better learning environments.
MBC Global, an organization based in suburban Detroit, Michigan, notes that an emphasis on a single factor in establishing
diversity or policy often leads to failure for an organization or business.
“When we use the term ‘multicultural’ to refer to a diverse members of a single culture, such as ethnicity or race, we
create an environment where people focus on the differences between the members of the culture,” says Rick Weaver,
MBC Global President. “By focusing on economic cultures with the validation it transgresses ethnic cultures, people of all
ethnicities will begin to look at common issues crossing-over cultural lines.”
Prior honorees of MBC Global’s Multicultural Achievement Award include Biggby Coffee of Lansing, Michigan; The
Executive Network based in Brazil; Pizza Patron of Dallas, Texas; Canadian television producer Zarqa Nawaz; Pepsi, and
William Zehnder. Each recipient has made a notable contribution recognizing at least two cultures important to cultural
commerce or understanding.
Multicultural Achievement for 4th Quarter, 2007
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., USA (March 18, 2008). MBC Global, an international cultural
organization today announced the winner of Quarterly Multicultural Achievement Award for the fourth quarter of 2007.
The honor goes to Stamford Public Schools of Stamford, Connecticut, USA, for taking an innovative approach to
diversity in the classroom.
The school board, under the leadership of it’s president, Martin Levine, decided to take a socio-economic approach to
school integration. They focused on three specific criteria: participants in the free/reduced lunch program, students living
in income restricted housing, and ESL students. The school board felt they will achieve a diverse population without
making ethnicity an issue.
Levine said the district has multiple ethnicities in each of these socio-economic distinctions. Levine pointed out, “The
English as a Second Language program, as an example, has students from Polish, Haitian, and Albanian backgrounds,
though most of the students are Hispanic.”
Stamford has a growing middle and upper class African-American and Asian populations however the school system is
frustrated because the African-American middle class is more likely to select private schooling. “They are leaving because
they feel their children are not being challenged,” said Levine.
He cited concerns that all minority or all poor schools lead to red-lining or steering by realtors. Problems are also created
by low-income schools as Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTO) have less dollars with which to work as school boosters.
Studies show that by de-emphasizing race while keeping a balanced student body creates better learning environments.
MBC Global, an organization based in suburban Detroit, Michigan, notes that an emphasis on a single factor in establishing
diversity or policy often leads to failure for an organization or business.
“When we use the term ‘multicultural’ to refer to a diverse members of a single culture, such as ethnicity or race, we
create an environment where people focus on the differences between the members of the culture,” says Rick Weaver,
MBC Global President. “By focusing on economic cultures with the validation it transgresses ethnic cultures, people of all
ethnicities will begin to look at common issues crossing-over cultural lines.”
Prior honorees of MBC Global’s Multicultural Achievement Award include Biggby Coffee of Lansing, Michigan; The
Executive Network based in Brazil; Pizza Patron of Dallas, Texas; Canadian television producer Zarqa Nawaz; Pepsi, and
William Zehnder. Each recipient has made a notable contribution recognizing at least two cultures important to cultural
commerce or understanding.
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About MBC Global
MBC Global is an international organization based near Detroit, Michigan, dedicated solely to increasing
cultural knowledge and awareness. MBC Global believes the more we know about the cultures flavoring the
world the better equipped we are to appreciate and embrace the differences that make each culture unique.
With members representing 6 continents, MBC Global connects cultures through a unique website. MBC
Global also offers developmental and training programs, setting it apart from other cultural organizations. For
more information about MBC Global, send an email to rick@mbcglobal.org or visit www.mbcglobal.org.
MBC Global is an international organization based near Detroit, Michigan, dedicated solely to increasing
cultural knowledge and awareness. MBC Global believes the more we know about the cultures flavoring the
world the better equipped we are to appreciate and embrace the differences that make each culture unique.
With members representing 6 continents, MBC Global connects cultures through a unique website. MBC
Global also offers developmental and training programs, setting it apart from other cultural organizations. For
more information about MBC Global, send an email to rick@mbcglobal.org or visit www.mbcglobal.org.
| © 2008 Permission granted for excerpts or entire article reproduction provided attribution is provided. Media Contact: Rick Weaver 248-802-6138 or rick@mbcglobal.org |
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