Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 1, 1995 TAG: 9505030004
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETH MACY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Are they intimidated by each other? Yes.
Can they relate to each other's experiences? Probably not.
If any program can get them together and get them beyond their prejudices, ``Anytown can do it,'' promises Marty Woodward, co-director of a national camp that is making its Virginia premiere in Botetourt County this summer.
Begun in 1957 by the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ), Anytown is a weeklong leadership-development camp designed to train area rising juniors and seniors in multi-cultural, inter-faith and inter-racial relations.
``The camp is about building deep friendships and overcoming prejudices,'' Woodward says. ``It's really an incredible process.''
To be held at Camp Bethel (north of Troutville) on July 2-8, Anytown will host 50 students from the Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem, Blacksburg, Franklin County and Radford school systems. Applications, which are being accepted through May 10, must be endorsed by a parent or guardian as well as by a nominating teacher, administrator, counselor or clergy person.
Woodward, an educational consultant with a Ph.D. in ministry, hopes camp participants will cross all socioeconomic and racial borders. ``The power of that is we can be a united people with our diversity being appreciated and understood.
``It's not a giving-up of our cultural and religious heritages, but learning to appreciate others' - so we can walk together in this valley.''
Sponsored by the Roanoke Valley NCCJ chapter and adopted by Spectrum, a women's group that promotes racial understanding, Anytown is modeled after Anytown camps in 25 states, including the Greensboro, N.C., program where Woodward trained. Ten Roanoke Valley students who attended the Greensboro camp last year will serve as peer counselors.
Northcross senior Sarah Waybright, a peer counselor, wrote about her Anytown experience last year for some of her college-application essays: "In this culturally mixed environment, I was able to learn about other people without feeling embarrassed about my ignorance," she wrote. "It was a risk for me to open up to strangers, but for some reason we all became closer in a week than some of my friends and I have become over many years."
Waybright and other peer counselors will lead participants in workshops, recreation activities and discussions, along with the camp's volunteer staff of 20 adults, who work in education, mental health, law and business.
The Multicultural Commission of Franklin County is sponsoring 10 students, and Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools are each paying half-tuition for 10.
Other scholarship funds will be available through NCCJ for participants, ``but we want the kids to participate in paying, as much as possible, even if it's just $20,'' Woodward says. Tuition for the seven-day camp is $200 and includes round-trip transportation from downtown Roanoke, meals and housing, health and accident insurance, and workshop materials.
``We're looking for motivated kids who could really be the leaders of tomorrow,'' Woodward says. ``We're hoping the kids will go back to their schools and start working with younger kids in the middle schools'' in ongoing diversity awareness projects.
``The underlying theme is to help people get beyond their prejudices,'' she adds. ``Here in the valley, it's always the county versus the city versus Salem, and we're constantly talking about being united. But if the kids can't do that, from Southeast to Northwest. . . .''
Applications are available from school guidance counselors, or by calling Woodward at 375-3259.
by CNB