Hart Union High School, the northernmost school in the zerohour
constellation, is located in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Known as the flagship school of the District, a racialized
brawl brought unwanted attention to the school in May,
2006. However, Hart Union has since sought to re-make
itself as a model of inclusion and equity, and has proactively
moved from adversity to embracing diversity.
Hart Union High School, School District, and the LACHRC
are collaborating on a two year plan to address the
root causes of the May 2006 incident. Viewing the incidents
as a product of cultural misunderstanding, achievement
and discipline gaps, and changing demographics in the
student body, initiatives to change these conditions
have been undertaken in three stakeholder areas: students,
parents, and staff.
"Change of HART", a student leadership development
organization created in response to those conditions,
today is working closely with ASB to promote on-campus
events which break down patterns of self-segregation,
educate peers about human relations issues and bring
diversity to traditional forms of leadership in the
school.
There are plans for staff training and parent leadership
development as well.
The HRC truly appreciates working with the organized
and dedicated community of Santa Clarita.
The CalArts Community Arts Partnership (CAP), Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations and
William S. Hart High School hosted a reception and reading on May 7 to celebrate the publication of FOOD
FOR THOUGHT, a book authored by immigrant student participants in the CAP/William S. Hart High School
Creative Writing Program. The Community Arts Partnership was made possible by a generous grant from
Lockheed Martin Foundation to the Human Relations Commission’s zerohour: No Haters Here! initiative at
Hart HS.
Like tapas, the Iberian appetizers that provide a variety of flavor in a small, quick bite, the publication, Food For
Thought offers insight from the students of Hart High School's English Language learners. Poetry, essays, fiction, and
non-fiction in Spanish and English opens the homes, and hopes of nearly 60 first-time writers to the world.
To produce this publication, the Cal-Arts Community Arts Project sent a dozen graduate fiction students into the school
to teach, mentor, and inspire. Over 6 months, the entrees began to emerge, until the collected stories of this entire group
was collected in Food For Thought.
The idea for such a publication came about when the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission began working at the school
to promote better relations between students groups- hoping to prevent the academic frustration and cultural misunderstanding
which underlined a racial riot at the school in May, 2005. Giving traditionally marginalized students a voice and opportunity
to express themselves, leads to the school community as a whole to understand them as individuals, lessening the traditional
barriers of culture, language and race which can separate people.
We are extremely proud of the hard work of the collaborative to increase cultural understanding through the creative arts.
So, we hope you enjoy this literary appetizer. Food For Thought.
Hate Acts Decline at Hart High
By Sharon Cotal Signal Staff Writer of newmedia.the-signal.com
Acts motivated by prejudice against another student because of race, religion or sexual
orientation have decreased more than 50 percent in the Hart district compared to this time
last year, according to a report presented by Hart District Diversity Coordinator Greg Lee.
There were 24 bias-motivated acts, which include fighting, name calling and threats made
against someone because they are different, during the fall 2007 semester, compared to 52 reported
during the fall 2006 semester in the William S. Hart Union High School District...
more
Cultural Diversity Month Celebrated in Diverse Ways Los Angeles - During the month of October, the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations calls upon community groups,
private entities and other governmental agencies to join the Commission in celebrating what makes this County such a special place
to live.
The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks, and ConnectLA, a
non-profit group committed to bringing diverse communities and sectors together through shared projects, will be celebrating Cultural
Diversity Month by coming together to celebrate "Teens Make a Difference Day" on Saturday, October 27, 2007...More
Determined that their school not be branded as racially intolerant, students and faculty at Newhall's Hart High School dedicated a
symbolic "peace pole" Tuesday aimed at affirming their respect for cultural diversity and their commitment to ethnic harmony...
more
How to polarize people for peaceful reconciliation? How about a "peace pole"?
When William S. Hart High School, in Santa Clarita, CA. erupted into racialized brawls in May, 2006, the community vowed it
would never happen again. The school's proactive approach was so dynamic that it was named a Zerohour school by the Los Angeles
County Human Relations Commission. Administrators and students established a club to focus on community building, called
Change of Hart, and began campus-based activities which to foster a new campus culture...more
