Voice of Equality- VOE
To promote understanding and acceptance of diversity through the youth.
248-873-9420
VOE- Voice of Equality
About
Our Goal
Here at VOE- Voice of Equality, we are driven by a single goal; to promote diversity within communities. We aim to create a core group of diverse students to conduct pro-diversity assemblies and workshops with groups of children that fall within the elementary 3rd-5th grade range.
Activities
"What Is Their Story?"
Our most popular activity, the storytelling activity, is based off of the most important factor in determining bias: intuition. In this activity, students are shown a picture of 4 men: a caucasian man, an african american man, an asian man, and a hispanic man. Students are given 5 minutes for each picture to answer questions about their first impression of that person and what they think their story might be. When asked what story the student's created for themselves, blaring biases become apparent. We then share the character's true story which is opposite of the preconceived notions the student mentioned before. This story teaches students the importance of the most basic lesson, "don't judge a book by it's cover" and its real life application.
"The Sneetches" by Dr.Seuss
Lesson: everyone is different!
We invite 2 students to the front of the class, have students say what is similar but what is different. On notecards, have students write what they like about themselves and share out to show not only how they are unique, but also how that makes them special.
Fingerprint
Lesson: We are unique!
Use ink pads and have students make thumbprints on construction paper. Then have the students examine thumbprints with magnifying glass. Goal: even though we're all people and a part of the same family, our fingerprints are different, we don't look alike or think alike.
Make A Puzzle
We will have premade puzzle pieces for the students to draw on! They will individually draw pictures that they feel convey their own personality. Each piece will come together to create a beautiful puzzle that shows how everyone fits together.
M & M Experiment
In the front of the class, we put m&ms surrounding a plate and have students watch as we put water in the middle and watch as it surrounds the plate and the different colors of the m & ms swirl together. As they swirl to the middle, we explain to the students that the individual colors represent each of our different personalities and uniquities. When they are next and with each other, they look much more beautiful than when they are apart.
Culture Tales
Specifically made for our younger audiences (Pre-K to 2nd grade), Culture Tales strives to introduce younger students to a diverse range of different heritages and demographics without bombarding them with Big concepts like stereotypes or bias. VOE volunteers read out a few stories from a variety of cultures and then students and encouraged to group up to create their own story, deriving ideas from their own personalities and experiences. They then have the opportunity to present to the rest of their class. Students learn the importance of a story and the existence of the beautiful cultures surrounding them!
What We Do
Workshops/Assemblies
Prejudice is a learned behavior.  Most children inherit their bias from their home environment.  Research shows that young children do not show preference based on skin color, gender, religion etc.  However, by the time children reach school age, many forms of prejudice, subtle and blatant, are already formed in their minds.  Currently, there are few non profits focused on promoting diversity--specifically  targeting the youth. VOE is one such organization that aims to rewrite assumptions that have possibly existed for generations by creating change in the future leaders of tomorrow.
Contact VOE- Voice of Equality
Get in touch with VOE- Voice of Equality to learn more about our work and how you can get involved. Contact us/ Send an email to receive more information on how your school can get involved.
Instagram: @voevoiceofequality
Email: voiceofequality0@gmail.com (Yes, that's a zero!:)
President contact:
248-873-9420 Inaya Qureshi
248-873-9420