First Lady Kim Henry will launch the third annual statewide Respect Diversity Art & Poetry Contest at Quail Creek Elementary School on September 8^, 2004.  During an assembly at 9:00 a.m., Mrs. Henry will read the book The Crayon Box That Talked to the student body, and then a Respect Diversity author and artist will guide students in each grade level to write poetry and to co-create a three dimensional work of art that will be entered in the contest.

This annual 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.

The Kirkpatrick Science and Air Space Museum at Omniplex has scheduled the Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit for the Spring of 2005..  The exhibit will feature the winning contest entries and will showcase all of the collaborations entered in the contest.  The 2004 exhibit filled three galleries of collaborative artwork by thousands of students.  Many of the entries are now on display at Respect Diversity Exhibits at the OU Medical Center’s Child Study Center and at the Edmond Fine Arts Institute.

The Respect Diversity Foundation (RDF) and  MetroFamily Magazine have teamed to offer this annual contest in an effort to teach respect for all people.  In addition, RDF 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!”

Partners for the Respect Diversity Art & Poetry Contest include the ADL, Barnes & Noble, Edmond Fine Arts Institute, MetroFamily Magazine,  Hideaway Foundation, iCelebrateDiversity.com, OKC Jewish Foundation, Teaching Tolerance Magazine, Tulsa World-Newspaper in Education, UCO College of Education, and Walmart Stores.

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 ,  e-mail: rdfrdf@cox.net, or call: 405/359-0369.