Cultural Diversity

Last week we brought you a story about a local high school teacher who won a national award for diversity. Today, WUKY's Alan Lytle takes you inside the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School's newsroom and their efforts to produce daily bilingual newscasts. You'll get to know some of the talented reporters working to make a difference in representation and cultural understanding.

Media Arts teacher Wendy Turner and some of her students just returned from San Francisco where she received the national 2023 Diversity Award from the Journalism Education Association (JEA). Turner, the advisor of PLD Lamplighter for nearly 20 years, was hailed for fostering a sense of belonging at Dunbar. Under her leadership the journalism program now produces their daily newscasts in English and Spanish.

One University of Kentucky researcher’s work is rooted in helping people understand how cultural values and health beliefs can play a role in various health disparities. Julie Plasencia, Ph.D., began her career studying Type 2 diabetes. Her research interests have expanded to diet-related health disparities in low-resource communities and how culture influences dietary behaviors in Latino communities. She talks about her research with Dr. Greg Davis.

The University of Kentucky celebrated cultural diversity with a feast. Reporter Chase Cavanaugh has the details. From Sushi and Falafel to Tortillas and…