Teachers and principals from Tulsa schools and Tiberias, Israel participated in a Respect Diversity Holocaust Art Education workshop during the Tulsa Jewish Federation Education Bridge Project, at B’nai Emunah Synagogue.  Carver Middle School was among the Tulsa schools represented.  Participants learned about the work of artists, writers, and musicians who survived the Holocaust. Created during the workshop were two multimedia art collages, titled T3 Bridging Diversity, that are colorful collaborations by the teachers and principals.

Tulsa students are invited to participate in the third annual Respect Diversity Art & Poetry Contest.  This contest encourages students throughout Oklahoma to combine imagination and understanding in creating art and poetry that emphasizes the value of diversity.  Young people throughout Oklahoma are celebrating diversity in very thought provoking ways as they explore issues of cultural diversity, civil rights, religious differences, and global peace through the arts.  All contest entries are collaborative symbols of respect for diversity created by students in K – 12.

During the workshop, Diversity Brings Piece, a quilt created by students at Tulsa’s Bell Elementary School, was among the many symbols of respect on display from the Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit at Omniplex in Oklahoma City, entered in the

2003-2004 Respect Diversity Art & Poetry Contest.

The Respect Diversity Foundation  and  MetroFamily Magazine have teamed to offer this annual contest in an effort to teach respect for all people.  In addition, the Respect Diversity Foundation offers diversity workshops throughout Oklahoma. “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 artwork that will be displayed at Omniplex,” said Governor Brad Henry.  “Exploring diversity through the arts is a great way to teach respect for all people!”

For entry forms, to see photos of collaborative symbols of respect, and to learn more about the Respect Diversity Art & Poetry Contest, visit:  www.respectdiversity.org, or   e-mail: rdfrdf@cox.net, or call: 405/359-0369.