August Highlights
Exploring Race: Building an Inclusive Community
Over 200 people attended this conference organized to coincide with the Race exhibit at Rochester Public Library. The conference featured two nationally renowned speakers, Professor john powell, Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, and Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., Director of Diversity at The Bush School in Seattle. Diversity Council staff presented a workshop on how to talk about race at work and at home.
Presentations and Workshops
Diversity Council staff offered workshops on "The Power of Words" to prospective managers at McNeilus Corporations, on the changing demographics of Olmsted County to MN Energy Resources staff in Rochester, and on "Bias and Stereotyping" to MN Energy Resources Staff in Worthington.
What's Race Got to Do With It?
The Diversity Council partnered with Rochester Public Library to present the film "What's Race Got to Do With It?" in conjunction with the Race exhibit. The film was followed by discussion.
Efficacy Training for Iraqis
The Diversity Council presented the Efficacy Institute's "Get Smart" Mindset training in Arabic for local Iraqi immigrants.
RACE Exhibit Discussion Groups
The Diversity Council facilitated 14 discussion groups on the RACE exhibit for staff from City and County office and from the University of Minnesota Rochester.
Collaborative Leadership Fellows
Executive Director Kay Hocker participated in a panel discussion on leading large-scale community change, hosted by the Collaborative Leadership Fellows.
2009 Highlights
- Partnered with Rochester Public Schools to train parents in the Efficacy Institute’s principles of learning so that ALL children can succeed in school, reaching 406 families in 2009, 5 trainers trained;
- Partnered with various local organizations to lead VOICES
(Valuing Our Immigrants’ Contributions to Economic Success),
a community forum that aims to understand and leverage the
assets that immigrants and refugees have to offer;
- Reached 2,843 adults with workshops, presentations and discussion groups addressing inclusion, equity and respect;
- Reached 17,522 students in the 2008-09 school year with our nationally recognized Spark! workshops, teaching children and youth to appreciate differences and stand up to prejudice and discrimination;
- Partnered with Rochester Civic Theatre to present a month of drama, music, film and more, celebrating diversity and inclusion in our community; offerings included the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Poetry Slam, which was featured on the national television show Nick News with Linda Ellerbee;
- Collaborated with community efforts to address gang issues, partnering with the United Way’s Community Gang Initiative and working with the Collaborative Leadership Fellowship to produce a film and to present a drama on the gang experience;
- Partnered with the University of Minnesota Rochester to present the Diversity Dialogues series;
- Awarded the Charities Review Council Seal of Approval once again, recognizing accountability and transparency in our governance and financial management;
- Continued to serve as a regional leader in diversity, sharing our expertise around Southeast Minnesota, as well as in Iowa and South Dakota.
