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Scotts Valley senior helps others fight discrimination at school
 Scotts Valley High School senior Grace Berg (center) talks to teachers and students at the school about the CORE club, which addresses issues of discrimination. Lucjan Szewczyk/Press-Banner Grace Berg, 17, a Scotts Valley High School senior, is an inspiration to those who bemoan a perceived lack of courtesy and commitment in the younger generation.
“I felt terrible when I heard discriminatory remarks while I was walking around the campus,” she said. “I felt that I had to do something about it.”
While a freshman, she joined the National Coalition-Building Institute club, which trains students to discuss discrimination — including race, sex, ethnicity, religion, gender and physical appearance — in the classroom. Outside speakers also are often invited, and all students are invited to the meetings.
“When the club has a guest, about 50 students attend,” Berg said.
In her sophomore year, Berg attended a five-day seminar in San Jose to become a club leader. The leader trains and encourages other students to join and delve into the issues. Club members work in freshman health and history classes and junior-year history classes.
Club members represent several ethnic groups. They conduct “speak-outs” in which stories of discrimination are told, and the effects on victims demonstrated.
Club membership in the national NCBI costs about $1,000. In Grace’s junior year, funding was short.
“We started our own group called CORE (standing for connection, open-mindedness, respect and empathy),” she said. “We conducted the same type of activities with new titles and with two teacher advisers, John Tiffany and Kelly Reiner.
“After we go into the classrooms and conduct programs, I sometimes see a difference in students’ attitudes toward others,” she noted.
The CORE club is seeking students who want to be trained as leaders. For information, e-mailing
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The tip of the Berg
Born in Scotts Valley, Berg has always attended local schools.
“I am proudest of my motivations,” she reflected. “I take full International Baccalaureate classes, which are conducted by teachers trained for the job of leading extra-hard and challenging programs. An exam is given at the end of the year to determine whether a student can continue with the difficult classes.”
Berg, who overcame an autoimmune disease, intends to become a doctor. “My philosophy is to keep going,” she said. “The end journey is worth it."
“The experience I will never forget is sitting in the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and meeting a lady who was waiting to hear whether her husband had cancer,” she said. “We sat and cried together. Finally, the nurse came out and said he was all right. It was an emotional and touching time.”
This summer, Berg studied at Penn State. It was her first time away from home.
“I stayed in a dorm, ate cafeteria food, made new friends,” she said. “It gave me a preview of what college will be like. It has been one of the highlights of my life.”
Berg also plays tennis, and says that while she isn’t on par with Maria Sharapova, she still enjoys the sport.
“I play on the high school team,” she said. “I also like playing tennis with my father.”
Scotts Valley writer Phyllis Levine, a retired college professor and public radio host, writes about her valley neighbors. She can be contacted at
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