Vista del Lago HS students start a 'speechless' club

The Speechless Club, a new group at Vista del Lago High School in Moreno Valley, is all about speaking out for those who live under the threat of violence, say student organizers.

Vista del Lago HS students start a 'speechless' club

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, September 22, 2009

By ERICA SHEN
The Press-Enterprise

The Speechless Club, a new group at Vista del Lago High School in Moreno Valley, is all about speaking out for those who live under the threat of violence, say student organizers.

"We want to speak out for people that are threatened by violence and cannot speak out for themselves," said Dalila Valdez, 15, club president.

Club members celebrated Peace One Day on Monday, an annual international campaign that declares one day of global truce. Students asked their peers to support the cause by wearing white, which is a color commonly associated with peace and healing.

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Erica Shen / The Press-Enterprise
Kurstyn Kirby, 15, left, Dalila Valdez, 15, and Ryan Brown, 16, are members of the Speechless Club at Vista del Lago High School in Moreno Valley.
Those who participated were eligible to enter a raffle for a free Ben and Jerry's ice cream created especially for One Peace Day.

Sharmayne Lawson, club adviser and social science teacher, said she hopes the campaign will turn into an annual event at all schools in the area.

"Violence isn't just a world issue," she said. "It's also relevant in schools."

Lawson said students need to learn to accept others who come from different racial and cultural backgrounds and reject those who discriminate and use violence.

Members of the Speechless Club meet once a week. They learn about issues such as genocide and racism and discuss videos and newspaper articles. The group plans to visit the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

Dalila said the club has affected what she wants to do when she grows up.

"I realized that there are so many people who need help," she said.

Dalila hopes to become a doctor and help women and children in Congo.

Reach Erica Shen at 951-763-3466, or eshen@PE.com

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