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UNITY Forum

• About UNITY Forum
• 2007 UNITY Forum Training

What is UNITY Forum?

UNITY Forum was brought to the Hemet Unified School District beginning in the 2005-06 school year as a proactive measure to address misunderstandings that can arise between students based on lacking empathy and respect for another. It was, in part, a response to California Healthy Kids Survey data which indicated the increasing percentages of students who reported having been harassed on campus at some time during the school year and in part as a result of significant growth in the district’s student population.

The Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program has sponsored districtwide trainings of peer leaders from all our middle and high school campuses have been sponsored annually since the program started. Funding is provided through this federal initiative.

School sites decide independently how they’d like to implement Unity Forum. Adult advisors provide support and guidance to the peer leaders. Many sites are providing the Forums on a monthly basis. Student leadership classes at Hemet High School and West Valley High School are the core team for their sites’ Forums. Each of these classes takes responsibility for organizing and facilitating the Forum on their campus.

Last year a districtwide year-end celebration and recognition for the UNITY Forum peer leaders was held in May. Guest speaker Terrence Roberts, on of the original Little Rock 9 students responsible for integrating central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, encourages students to continue to be part of this effective effort to promote the conversation and engagement of students with one another that increases understanding and decreases the risk of violence and turmoil.

UNITY Forum is a format in which students participate in activities that are both fund and meaningful, developing insight, capacity for self-reflection and understanding and compassion for others.

The Hemet Unified School District is working to promote and support the development of Unity Forum teams at all our middle and high schools. For more information on Unity Forums at the individual school sites, contact Valerie Velez at 791-2537 or by e-mail at vvelez@hemetusd.k12.ca.us

Contact your middle or high school office for to reach the Unity Forum advisor at your school.

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UNITY Forum Training

This year UNITY Forum training was held at Tahquitz High School. Representatives from all HUSD high schools were trained on October 10. Representatives from all HUSD middle schools were trained on October 24. Program coordinator, Valerie Velez said "The program was a great success, this year we trained more students than before and there was a lot of excitement on both training days."

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Welcome to UNITY Forum

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