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The Greater Hazleton Chamber, in cooperation with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, the Diversity Institute at Misericordia University and Penn State Cooperative Extension and corporate sponsors, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. and Procter & Gamble Paper Products Co., are planning for the 8th Annual Day of Cultural Sharing to be held on Thursday, October 25th. The program joins business volunteers with fifth grade classrooms for an hour of diversity activities and conversation in an effort to raise diversity awareness. The Day of Cultural Sharing program is designed to engage the business community with the education community to make diversity a priority. This program sends a clear message that we, as a community, value and celebrate diversity.

“Making people feel welcome in our community and understanding our differences is what the program is all about,” stated Hazleton Chamber of Commerce President Donna Palermo. “There is a need to communicate to all residents of our community the differences and similarities among people of all races, religions, and backgrounds. As our community continues to grow in diversity, we must all work together to create a more understanding and cooperative environment. Although there are many people of different backgrounds, in many ways they are the same. The goal is to work together for the betterment of our community and what better place to begin than in our schools with our young people”.

There will be two training sessions, the first will be held on October 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the LCCC Corporate Learning Center, Room 102 in Wilkes-Barre and an alternate session on October 19th from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Sallie Mae in Wilkes-Barre.

The 2007 “Day of Cultural Sharing” is sponsored by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity Task Force, Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry’s Diversity Task Force, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, the Diversity Institute at College Misericordia and Penn State Cooperative Extension – Luzerne County.

For information on the event, how to volunteer or regarding how to register your school to participate, please contact Debbie Pavuk at the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce at 455-1509 or dpavuk@hazletonchamber.org.