Plant a petunia next to a marigold and you start the foundation of nature's diversity garden. Mix an African-American child with a white child and you start a life lesson in the diversity of people.

        That takes place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday during the planting of the Washington Park Unity Garden in the Washington Park Band Shell.

        Cincinnati city officials will join third-grade delegates from School Team 2002 to celebrate unity in diversity.

        And this is happening on the 48th anniversary of the historic school desegregation case Brown v. the Board of Education.

        The event is part of the Colors of the Earth Project, started by Leadership Cincinnati 25 eight months ago, involving 900 students of all ethnic groups from 15 schools.

        “We will have four students from each school in School Team 2002 participating in planting the garden Friday, ” said John Angelo, co-chairman of the Colors of the Earth Project, along with Willie Carden Jr., director of the Cincinnati Park Board.

        The Cincinnati Horticultural Society is also a sponsor.

        “When we started the project, we chose schools of different ethnic groups. We went to each school and talked with the students about diversity.”

        Each student in the program has planted and grown two flowers. One will be kept at the school. The other will be planted in the Unity Garden.

        “The idea is to use the colors of the earth to emphasize diversity,” Mr. Angelo said.

        Dignitaries who will be at the event are Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken, former vice mayor Marian Spencer, Chamber of Commerce President Michael Fisher, Deputy Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools Rosa Blackwell, Councilwoman Minette Cooper and Councilman Jim Tarbell.

        Each dignitary will take a container plant.

        “The idea is to spread the diversity from Washington Park into the general community,” Mr. Angelo said.

        Dayna Eubanks, Channel 12 WKRC-TV anchor, will emcee. Singer and radio talk-show host P.N. Everson-Price will sing.

        The ceremony Friday is sponsored by Ohio National Financial Services, Neyer Foundation, Procter & Gamble, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1099 Foundation.

        School Team 2002 includes Ayer, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Clifton School of Expeditionary Learning, Corryville Catholic, Dater Montessori, Indian Hill Elementary, Oak Tree Montessori, Oyler, Pleasant Ridge, Seven Hills Doherty, South Avondale, St. Francis Seraph, Washington Park, Welch and Yavneh Day School.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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