You belong—that is the theme of the Key Arts Productions presentation All Are Welcome, which was recently presented at P.S. duPont Middle School in Wilmington, Delaware.

The dynamic multimedia performance engaged students and asked them to acknowledge their differences, whether cultural, racial, religious, or physical disability; we can celebrate what makes us different and learn from one another. The auditorium was packed with enthusiastic students who answered questions about their family background and roots and how they can help others feel welcome in school and the community in which they live.

“I enjoyed singing along with the performers. They responded positively to the assembly,” states a teacher from the audience. The audience, comprised of youngsters in grades 5 through 8, was fully engaged throughout the program.

“It was a fun assembly!” exclaimed a student in the audience. I really liked the music!”

Assistant Principal Phil Reggio invited Key Arts to participate in the school’s kick-off assembly to start the school year with a program encouraging P.S. duPont students to become more aware of their role as part of the greater community in school, Wilmington, and the world. After seeing one of three All Are Welcome assemblies presented to the entire student body, Reggio hopes the program will build character and teach students to be kind and respect one another. School principal Llewellyn A. Small is a dedicated administrator aware of the importance of providing essential diversity learning experiences for his students, hoping that it will foster cultural awareness and help her students become well-rounded global citizens.

“It said that America is a melting pot or salad bowl of people and cultures from around the world, and it’s true,” producer and program creator Joseph Patterson explains. “We want kids to know that learning about other cultures can help people understand and empathize with the experiences of others. That understanding makes their school experiences more enjoyable and rewarding.”

Kids learned that the difference in skin color shades is a result of the activity of melanin in the skin and that the color of your skin doesn’t make you smarter or better than anyone. They also learned about peace advocates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi and listened to a moving rendition of former Beatles bandmate John Lennon’s classic song Imagine, performed by Nathan Harman and Latasha Montfort, members of the Key Arts cast. Other songs included What the World Needs Now is Love, The Greatest Love of All, and Rise Up. The program ended with singer-songwriter Bill Whither’s hit song Lean on Me, which challenges youngsters to be available to help others in need.

All Are Welcome is a one-of-a-kind multimedia presentation that provides an incredible opportunity for the students to learn about themselves, our world, and how we can continue to inspire one another to be the best we can be.