The Respect Diversity Foundation (RDF), a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, was created to help people of all ages successfully live, learn and work in our increasingly diverse society. It is that very diversity that is the strength of this country. While we have come a long way with achieving the goals of equality and acceptance, we are not yet there. RDF seeks to help students of all ages understand other cultures and their own, create positive inter-group relationships and build strong communities throughout the state of Oklahoma.
The source of the Respect Diversity Foundation’s strength is three fold: 1) our direct contact with participants in the schools and the communities through our educators on RDF’s Speaker’s Bureau among whom are civil rights leaders, artists, authors, Holocaust educators, historians, storytellers and musicians; 2) our ability to guide teachers to teach tolerance and respect through interdisciplinary projects under the umbrella of the Respect Diversity Symbol Campaign; 3) and our annual state-wide Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit with art collaborations, by students, that teach the community respect for diversity through the arts.
RDF educators are diverse, teaching their own subjects (history of the Middle East conflict, the civil rights movement, poetry writing, art, music, the cultures of other countries) with the underlying theme of respect for the diversity unique to that culture. Educators accomplish the goal of teaching respect through seminars, workshops, discussion panels and other activities in schools (from pre-kindergarten to universities) and community organizations.
RDF’s mission is to teach tolerance and respect for all people. We’ve found great results as our participants explore diversity through the arts. The Respect Diversity Symbol Campaign is a multi-leveled project that encourages students and friends to focus on a diversity issue such as human rights, global unity, special needs or religious tolerance. Then students engage in discussion. After expressing their ideas, participants collaborate to create a symbol of respect. These might be in the form of a school anthology, a visual art piece, a poem or a song and dance routine.
An initiative to promote awareness of the Holocaust and why it is important to remember is the Respect Diversity Holocaust Art Education Project. The study of the Holocaust yields critical lessons for an investigation of human behavior. First, during an assembly a Holocaust educator relates the past to issues of today, such as bullying and religious intolerance. Then an artist, poet, songwriter or musician develops the lessons learned during a diversity hands-on workshop. Students work together as they collaborate on a symbol of respect for diversity that is later showcased at one of several venues, ie: the Kirkpatrick Science and Air Space Museum at Omniplex, the OU Medical Center’s Child Study Center, and the Edmond Fine Arts Institute.
Senior citizens participate with teenagers in diversity Intergenerational Art Education Workshops. When people of different cultures or generations learn together and create together, they more readily learn respect for each other; walls and misconceptions are broken down. These encounters teach both the students and the seniors that they have value and can learn from each other.
RDF teams with MetroFamily Magazine to sponsor the annual state-wide Respect Diversity Art & Poetry Contest. All entries are collaborative and are showcased for one month during thesSpring at the Respect Diversity Symbol Campaign Exhibit at Omniplex. Thousands of students from pre-kindergarten through high school have participated. This is a project endorsed by Governor and Mrs. Henry, State School Superintendent Sandy Garrett, district superintendents, principals and teachers throughout the state.
One of the most neglected groups in America is students with special needs. RDF does not neglect them. Students with special needs have an opportunity to buddy up with their non-special-needs peers for Fun Runs and collaborative art projects. Students who work with individuals who have special needs become more sensitive, not only toward those with special needs but toward others as well. Those who are differently-able enjoy new friendships and a more tolerant community. This, along with art and poetry workshops teaching about other countries, combines to offer a wealth of activities for the Intercultural Art Education Project.
Teacher In-Service Training Workshops and Seminars are a way for RDF to reach thousands of students indirectly by teaching teachers. The workshops are tailored to the needs of the schools and/or districts.
A way for students to teach their peers is through the Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibits. A framed information card is next to art work in venues such as the OU Medical Center’s Child Study Center, the Edmond Fine Arts Institute, and Omniplex.
Since RDF’s first seminars and workshops in January of 2001, educators from RDF have conducted over 400 workshops, assemblies, panel discussions and other activities in over 30 school districts, with thousands of participants. School administrators throughout the nation request RDF’s assistance in providing speakers and activities to inspire students to embrace diversity. Teachers are given support over the internet and in person whenever possible.
The Respect Diversity Symbol Campaign has brought national attention to Oklahoma because RDF distributes symbols created by students (with captions and/or articles) to newspapers, magazines and the internet. For example, the Southern Poverty Law Center has promoted (and will continue to promote) the Respect Diversity Symbol Campaign in Teaching Tolerance, a magazine that goes out to over 500,000 schools and teachers nationwide, including over 3,500 schools and teachers in Oklahoma. (The Fall 2004 issue included another article generated by RDF, teaching acceptance of students with special needs.)
Students learn about specific diversity issues such as human rights, cultures around the globe, and special needs and how these issues relate directly to them. By engaging in discussion, we are preparing students to understand those differences and work together in a positive way. Students take what they have learned from a seminar or workshop and apply the lessons as they grow into young adults, enter the workforce, and become parents. Respect for people from different cultures, races, religions and ability levels becomes a way of life. Respect for diversity creates friendlier and safer schools and a higher quality of life in Oklahoma communities and the world.
The American Justice Department says that in May of 2004, one out of every four kids was abused by another youth. We cannot afford to look the other way, hoping things will magically improve. Education is the key. We’ve found educators who are experts at teaching tolerance and respect - in ways that students will embrace - through the arts. Now we need enough visionaries to support these educators throughout the state of Oklahoma.
