WELCOME BELMONTThis initiative embodies one of our

country’s core philosophies: Diversity fuels our nation’s success.

Purpose Assist with the successful integration of

students who are recent immigrants into the academic and social life of Belmont High School.

Provide students who are long-time residents of the U.S. an opportunity to develop effective cross-cultural communication skills.

Create a multicultural milieu at the school that encourages engaged global citizenship.

Goals1. Provide a structured and welcoming

environment opportunity for students who are recent immigrants and students who are long-time residents of the U.S. to interact on a regular basis.

2. Connect and engage students in the community through activities to make them well-rounded and culturally competent.

Outcomes1. Increase the cultural competence of

program participants, both recent immigrants and long-term residents of the U.S.

2. Reduce cultural stereotyping on the part of Belmont High School students, both those who are program participants and those who are not.

Assessment Pre and post interviews. Frequency of contact between cultural

collaborators. Cultural Competency Rubric from the

Toolkit for Evaluating Positive Youth Development. (The Colorado Trust)

Being Involved In Welcome Belmont Has Helped Me To:

  Yes Kind of

Not really

No answe

r1 Know more about people of other cultures,

races or ethnic groups. 17 3 0 -2 Care more about other people of other

cultures, races or ethnic groups. 16 3 1 -3 Have more respect for people of other

cultures, races or ethnic groups. 19 0 1 -4 Feel more comfortable with people of other

cultures, races or ethnic groups. 14 6 0 -5 Talk more to people who speak a different

language than I do at home. 13 5 2 -6 Try harder to not judge people based on their

skin color. 18 1 1 -7 Be more aware that I sometimes have ideas

about people that are not true. 13 5 1 1

Because I Came To Welcome Belmont:

  Yes Kind of

Not really

No answe

r1 I know more about the good things that people

who look or sound different than me have done 19 1 0 -

2 I talk more with people who look or sound different than me. 14 6 0 -

3 I feel more comfortable being around people who look or sound different than me. 13 7 0 -

4 I understand that someone who looks or sounds different than me may not be that different at all. 16 3 1 -

Because I Was Involved in Welcome Belmont:

  Yes Kind of

Not really

No answe

r1 I know more about my own culture, race or

ethnic group. 10 10 0 -

2 I am more interested in my own culture, race or ethnic group. 8 7 5 -

3 I feel more connected to my family’s cultural traditions. 9 9 2 -

4 I feel more connected to my own culture, race or ethnic group. 12 8 0 -

5 I feel more pride for my own culture, race or ethnic group 14 5 1 -

6 I have more respect for members of my community. 17 3 0 -

What did you find to be the most valuable part of being involved with

Welcome Belmont? Team work Meeting people that I never thought that I

would talk to. I get to go different places, meet new people

with different stories to their life, and be able to understand people better.

Learning more about people of different races. Getting to know people of other cultures and

realizing how similar they are to us. I found that people help us a lot and care

about our culture.

What Challenges Did You Encounter?

Language! The language barrier was tough at first,

but now we find ways to talk.

How Have You Changed Because You Were Involved With Welcome Belmont?

I’m friendlier. I care about other people who are not like me. I used to not talk to the people not of my race

and now I do. I learned how to understand people first befor

judging them and do not judge people because of their color.

I am more open-minded. I have more friends. Not afraid to talk to people different than me.

What Changes Have You Seen In Your High School Because Of Welcome Belmont?

More kindness and less racism. More people talking to people out of their

race. More want conversation; understanding of

others. Different people talking to others. Different

friendships. More American kids speak to ESL kids

regularly. People want to learn about other students and

their cultures.

How Would You Recommend Welcome Belmont Be Improved? Have more team-building activities. Have a bigger group; the whole school! I have none; it’s great the way it is. Schedule times during school where ESL

students and American students can do class work together.