|
||
 |
 | | | | |  |
 |
Leadership |
|
Education Equity |
|
Institutes |
|
Workshops |
|
Initiatives |
|
Hate Crimes |
|
Awareness |
|
REC |
|
Dialogue |
Diversity Awareness Partnership (DAP)St. Louis Community Teams Up to Make a Difference
Millions of dollars of cash and in-kind donations to the project have created diversity messages in all media in the St. Louis community over the last three years. Ads featuring Rams, Cardinals, Blues and other sports personalities have been featured in Insider Magazine and prominent sports venues. Additionally, youth from area schools who are participating in pilot programs working on inclusion through the Cooperating School Districts have been guests of the Rams Foundation home football games. Support for DAP comes from E. Desmond Lee, Saint Louis Heroes, the St. Louis Rams Foundation and United Way of Greater St. Louis. Significant in-kind donations to the Partnership from Behavioral Health Response, EDS, Media Pulse, Momentum East and St. Louis 2004 and St. Louis Rams Foundation, Webster University. "The Rams organization is committed to helping St. Louis become a place that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of everyone regardless of their differences," said John Shaw, president, St. Louis Rams. "We are excited about the Diversity Awareness Partnership. Tolerance is a key issue facing our region. It cuts across everything we do. Ultimately, our ability to succeed as a region will depend on how we deal with issues of race and difference," said former Senator Jack Danforth, chair of St. Louis 2004. In November of 2003, NCCJ teamed up with The St. Louis RAMS, The Diversity Awareness Partnership, KMOV and KMOX to present Walk As One Walk-A-Thon to the St. Louis Community. The Rams hosted the walk event in the Edward Jones Dome. The Diversity Awareness Partnership has four components: ·www.makeadifferencestlouis.org --a community-oriented diversity website developed in-kind by EDS. The site will offer a diversity resource guide with information about more than 60 organizations involved in diversity work; articles and information on the positive role diversity is making in the lives of St. Louisans; tips about how to initiate dialogue with friends and family on this meaningful topic; and a calendar of events. ·Hotline--By simply dialing 1 866-ONE-CITY, callers can use the hotline to get information about organizations involved in promoting diversity. Hotline counselors also will provide practical advice for dealing with diversity issues in everyday situations as well as assistance in connecting victims of hate incidents with appropriate agencies. The Hotline has been donated by Behavioral Health Response. ·School Pilots - In collaboration with the Cooperating School Districts, the Partnership is piloting "Don’t Laugh at Me," a diversity training program developed by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, to more than 30 schools in seven districts. In addition, the Partnership is implementing "Give Respect- Get Respect" involving over thirty schools in the region. Partner organizations including ADL and NCCJ are involved in the implementation of these pilots. ·Public Awareness Campaign--challenges St. Louisans to look at their own ability to accept individual differences. The campaign, created in-kind by Momentum East, initially focuses on the issues of race, sexual orientation and persons with physical limitations. Additional focus areas will be added in the future. The tagline: Make a Difference by Accepting Everyone Else’s will be used in all materials. The website was created and is being maintained and hosted as an in-kind contribution by EDS, the recognized global computer services leader in helping clients manage the complexities of the digital economy. "EDS is pleased to help the Diversity Awareness Partnership use technology in new, innovative ways to bring the message of acceptance and tolerance to the St. Louis community," said Dan Blakeley, delivery executive, EDS. "EDS is committed to a global community in which differences are both celebrated and leveraged so that we can collectively perform to our greatest potential." "We were excited about the opportunity to create compelling advertising that speaks to such positive issues for St. Louis," said Neal Morrison, Vice President, Account Service for Momentum Inc. "The messages need to be strong and emotional. They need to challenge St. Louis to support Diversity. We think our work achieved that and we're happy to contribute," continued Morrison. Webster University is hosting the Partnership. The University, which leads the nation in awarding master’s degrees to minority students, will provide office space, furniture and equipment for the partnership. "Webster University is particularly proud of its long and successful tradition of serving women and minority students. Webster classrooms reflect the faces of the world. We are also proud to share in the efforts of the St. Louis community to make diversity a high priority in every aspect of our daily lives," said Richard S. Meyers, president, Webster University. The Diversity Awareness Partnership is a collaboration of St. Louis organizations that have demonstrated leadership in diversity work and have combined resources to create a community that is inclusive at every level, that celebrates diversity and practices equality. Diversity Awareness Partnership ·100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis
|
