A World of Difference: A Program, Not a Club 

This year, Norwood High School is offering the "A World of Difference " program, a national program that is sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League. This program has a rigorous application cycle that is accepting 25-35 students from 9-11 grade. Seniors are not going to be allowed to apply and be a part of this program because the program, according to the Anti-Defamation League, needs returning members to continue building impact in the school. 

Mrs. Connolly, one of the advisers says one of the reasons this is a club and not a program is “when you think “club,” you think after school, once a month, extra curricular...but the world of difference program, most of it is intended to take place during school hours.” 

At NHS, this branch of the "A World of Difference" program is going to be a huge commitment according to advisers, Mrs. Connolly, Ms. Lowe-McLaurin, and Mr. Reyes. Students who are accepted are required to complete training on and off-campus, during school hours and off school hours. 

Norwood high has been looking to implement the program for many years however the Anti-Defamation League can only introduce so many schools at once. With the help of Principal Dr. Hugh Galligan, and Vice-Principal Mrs. Cindy Derrane, NHS was able to be a part of this program. Ms. Lowe-McLaurin says that “there has been a lot of feedback from students, from the community, that there are a lot of cracks in the culture of the school and that it has been getting worse and worse every year.”

Also according to Lowe-McLaurin, “[This] is something that the administration has been trying to get up and running for the last 2 to 3 years, but it just hadn't been off the ground yet.” 

Students who apply will, after a lot of training, become peer leaders to freshmen and lead them through workshops throughout the school day that encourages students to have more of an open mind. The club is implemented to fight against racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and every other “ism” plaguing the world today. Lowe-McLaurin says that she wants students to know “how to be able to stand up for someone in a way that's respectful, in a way that gets across to the other person who might be disrespecting someone that it is hurtful and not just painful to that person but to the whole community.”

Each of the advisers feel strongly about the subject that they felt it was a duty to lead this whole new program. Ms. Connolly said “that as a white teacher who has many students of color, and who teaches several texts that deal directly with racism and anti-Black sentiment, I also feel that I have a lot to learn about engaging with these works. I was inspired to be a part of the program because I hope that along with the students who are participating, I can gain some insight on how to create a safe, open, and comfortable space for all of my students.”