Pursuing Peace--'Enlisting Students in the Battle against Bias'

In communities all over the United States, issues of mistrust, anger, harassment, and bias often accompany the task of cultures learning to live together, and Lewiston, Maine, is no exception. Lewiston High School has recognized the potential conflict and addressed it in a forthright manner. The students have helped lead the way. This article describes two subprograms under the umbrella of the Unity Project of the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence, which helps in dealing with the school's sociocultural issues: (1) Student Leadership Project (SLP); and (2) Controversial Dialogue (CD). The underlying philosophy of these programs is that students are the best allies in working toward a peaceful, bias-free school.