Global Diversity Awareness Month Helps Youth ‘Celebrate Diversity with Kindness’

November 26, 2025

Each year, Mercy Home celebrates Global Diversity Awareness Month from October 15-November 15 by picking a topic that is reflective of a need in the community. For this fall’s observance, Mercy Home organized activities that educated our young people about bullying. The program, themed “Celebrating Diversity with Kindness,” focused on bullying prevention and community building through games, art, and advocacy. 

“We know that bullying can be a real challenge for a number of our kids both as the ones who are bullied and some who are bullies themselves,” said Mercy Home Vice President of Organizational Development Emily Neal. “That can either happen in a school environment or [elsewhere]. We thought we would use this opportunity to raise awareness around what bullying is, the impact it can have on people, and how you can intervene.” 

Studies by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDS) indicate that more than 20% of students said they experienced bullying. The consequences of bullying include higher risk for depression, anxiety, and poor self-esteem, lower academic achievement, and negative effects on relationships. 

Many of our young people acknowledge during the admissions process that they have experienced bullying both at school and in their community. Oftentimes, bullying relates to who they are, how they behave or what they look like. And bullying for these young people can contribute to social isolation and ostracism.  

“So many of our kids come here not able to identify what their own personal strengths are or to name a best friend,” Neal said. “So, they struggle with social relationships and self-esteem as a result. It’s important that we educate kids about it and empower them to stand up for themselves and especially for other people if they see it happening.”  

The first activity that the young people participated in was an online Kahoot trivia game. They received a study guide in advance and competed for prizes against each other.  

Senior Coordinator of After School Programs and Tutoring Veronica Quintero also put together a worksheet about the use of power in social relationships and how it can be used both negatively and for good. The kids partnered with each other and answered the questions.  

“I think talking about advocacy is important for the youth because every teenager, especially teenagers with trauma, need to be reminded of the power that they do have,” Quintero said. “It’s important to remind youth how powerful one voice can be. It’s also reminding them how effective using that voice for change for the better has been and can be for them as well.” 

Walsh Campus Tutoring and After School Programs Coordinator Trinity Young shared a video and presentation and the girls also participated in teambuilding games to build community.  

“An antidote to isolation and bullying is building community, so we focused on that there,” Neal said.  

The young people also participated in a poster contest where they focused on one type of bullying. Some programs chose cyberbullying, racist bullying, disability bullying and sexist bullying among other topics. They wrote the definition, shared what it can look like and how to address it as a victim, bystander, or person in a position in authority.  

“Making the posters is an attempt to use some creativity to their approach to learning about a topic and educating other people about it,” Neal said.  

At the end of the month, Imagination Theater performed skits roleplaying conflicts and bullying. The youth volunteered as well.  

“The boys really benefitted from some experiential learning,” Neal said.  

Global Diversity Awareness Month is one of many opportunities Mercy Home tries to take advantage of celebrating different cultures and identities.  

“It is important to create opportunities for the youth to see their own cultures represented and celebrated,” Neal said. We also want them to learn about other cultures and demystify other aspects and be open to have their perspectives changed and expanded.”