PACE Teacher In-Service for OK Bar Association

Featuring Diversity Speakers

Michael Korenblit, President of the Respect Diversity Foundation (RDF) and author of Until We Meet Again, spoke at the Oklahoma Bar Association’s week-long, Summer Teacher In-Service “Teaching Cultural Diversity” PACE XV, at OCU.   He related the Holocaust to issues of today such as bullying and religious intolerance.   . 

Immediately following Michael’s talk, RDF artist Vicky Jackson facilitated a Holocaust Art Education workshop.  She taught about the art, music and writings of such Holocaust survivors such as Marc Chagall and Mordechai Gebirtig.  During this workshop, teachers began considering diversity projects for their students who will explore diversity through the arts. 

RDF diversity workshop and seminar leaders are available to go into schools throughout the state of Oklahoma to guide students to explore diversity through the arts.

“Sending civil rights leaders, Holocaust speakers, authors, artists, musicians and other educators into schools to supplement the curriculum is a wonderful endeavor.  I applaud the thousands of students who are collaborating on diversity artwork,” said Governor Brad Henry.  “Exploring diversity through the arts is a great way to teach respect for all people!”

Cimarron Middle School’s English teacher, Jet Torrence, also a member of the Respect Diversity Foundation’s Speaker’s Bureau, facilitated a workshop around contributions of music by African American artists.

Don Betz, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Oklahoma and RDF speaker, gave a talk on Cultural Tolerance & the American Democracy Project. Dr. Betz has worked for and with the United Nations, for over 22 years, creating and chairing the ICCP, a non-governmental organization (NGO) network pursuing peace in the Middle East based on UN resolutions. 

To learn about projects of the Edmond-based Respect Diversity Foundation, visit:  www.respectdiversity.org, or write: rdfrdf@sbcglobal.net, or call: 405/359-0369.