WATERVILLE VALLEY, New Hampshire ??” Waterville Valley Resort and The New Hampshire Cultural Diversity Awareness Council will host the 6th annual “Keeping the Dream Alive” cultural diversity workshop at the Waterville Valley Conference Center on Wednesday, January 11, 2006. The only program of its kind in New England, the workshop combines diversity training and skiing for 250 middle school students from around the region. This year’s 7th and 8th graders will come from Pittsburg, New Ipswich, and Londonderry, New Hampshire, as well as North Reading and the Roxbury and Mattapan areas of Boston, Massachusetts. The goal of the program is to foster greater sensitivity and awareness of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday while promoting cultural diversity.

During the morning, professional trainers from area corporations, educators, law enforcement, and military work with the students on such issues as prejudice relating to one’s economic status, language, religious, and ethnic origin. Through the use of hands-on exercises, the students learn problem solving strategies and positive ways to resolve conflicts with others.

In the afternoon, the students, chaperones and trainers ski and snowboard at Waterville Valley Resort. The day is ended with a pizza party at the Base Lodge.

The ultimate goal is to have the students return to school to share their experience with their peers. “After morning of diversity training and an afternoon of skiing, the kids leave feeling that they have more in common with each other,” said Wayne Jennings, president of the NH Cultural Diversity Council. “They also leave with a better understanding and respect for country, our country’s flag, as well as the men and women who wear the uniform of our country’s military and law enforcement.”

“As the host of the event, we are exposing kids from all backgrounds to our beautiful resort,” said Tom Day, Waterville Valley General Manager. “Whenever we encourage kids to get out and ski and snowboard together, not only are we promoting a healthy lifestyle but also encouraging these kids to become lifelong skiers and snowboarders. Something that is good for our industry as a whole.”

For more information contact the New Hampshire Cultural Diversity Council at 603-494-4723.