In the News
RACE exhibit seeks volunteers—a lot of them
Edie Grossfield
March 6, 2010
Kay Hocker is looking for volunteers — about 90 of them.
The executive director of the Diversity Council is lining up people to be youth discussion facilitators during the Rochester exhibition of "RACE: Are We So Different?" The traveling exhibit, created by the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul and the American Anthropological Association, explores concepts and perceptions of race, and offers people tools for recognizing race and racism in their own lives.
The Diversity Council is partnering with Mayo Clinic and the Rochester Public Library to engage the community in the RACE exhibit by offering the discussion groups. Mayo is the main sponsor of the exhibit in Rochester, where it will be free and open to the public at the library from May 17 through Sept. 4.
Hocker needs between 150 and 175 facilitators to run student discussion groups after student classes see the exhibit and watch an accompanying play. So far, about 60 people have applied to be facilitators, and Hocker has verbal agreements from another 20 or so, she said.
In addition, Mayo is looking for about 100 volunteers to be docents.
The Diversity Council and Mayo will train volunteers to facilitate and be docents, Hocker said. For example, facilitators will go through two 4-hour training sessions.
A planning team made up of various local organizations decided to add the discussions and play to the exhibit for students, who will be coming from districts throughout southeastern Minnesota.
"It's such a fabulous opportunity for the community, that we're really looking for lots of ways to engage community members, businesses, organizations. And in particular, it's a wonderful opportunity for school kids," Hocker said.
Monday through Friday through June 11, there will be six student sessions per day, including 40 minutes in the exhibit and a 40-minute discussion afterward. "Within each session, there are 15 discussion circles going at the same time. So, that's why we need all those facilitators," Hocker said.
Students also will see the play "Race to the Finish Line," which was written by the Science Museum to complement the exhibit. It will be directed here by the Rochester Civic Theatre, another partner in the project.
Hocker said she expects an enlightening experience for students.
"I think it's going to be exciting and engaging. And I think it's going to promote reflection, and encourage students to think about the ways that we let certain ideas about each other get in the way of appreciating each other. I think it's a wonderful opportunity. And I think it does a good job of challenging those myths and assumptions and stereotypes we have about each other in terms of race," she said.
Adult groups can make arrangements with Mayo Clinic to participate in post-exhibit discussions and see the play as well. Some businesses and other organizations have already signed up to do so, Hocker said.
National sponsors of the RACE exhibit include Best Buy, the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation.
© 2010 Post Bulletin. Used by permission.
