Who We Are

The Diversity Council is a small, community focused, community led, volunteer supported organization working to create an inclusive and welcoming community through education.

Our unique approach to diversity focuses our educational efforts on the whole person, stressing that we are all different in some ways, but our differences are far outweighed in number and importance by our similarities.

We educate the majority population on the benefits of embracing all forms of diversity in order to create a more productive workforce, better schools and a better community; and we collaborate with diverse groups serving children and adults in the minority and majority communities.

Our most successful program, the Prejudice Reduction Workshops, is one of a kind in our community, and according to research by a consulting firm, there are few other comparable programs in the country. This program is presented in schools to K-12 children, and since its beginnings in 1995 has increased the number of participants from 300 to more than 15,000.

Our adult education efforts are expanding as well; programs include the Wealth, Innovation & Diversity corporate seminars, Framework for Understanding Poverty seminars, and presentations on a variety of diversity issues.

Historically we have actively sought participation in events and projects with other community organizations and leaders. In 1997 the Diversity Council collaborated with other organizations to lead our community in the "Not In Our Town" campaign against racial violence, in which 32,000 posters were displayed in windows. In 2000, we published and distributed 10,000 copies of a booklet educating the community about the eight major groups of immigrants in our town. In 2001, we developed and translated into eight different languages a comprehensive guide to resources in Rochester. 1,500 copies were printed and are being distributed. In 2003, we partnered with the Not In Our Town committee to organize a local film festival addressing issues of prejudice and peacemaking in our community.

We are recognized as leaders in addressing diversity issues in our community and have earned the support of the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, the Independent School District 535, other community organizations and major area businesses through the creation of long-term partnerships.

History of the Diversity Council

The leadership of Rochester School District 535 started Building Equality Together (BET) in 1989 to combat issues of racism and discrimination in our community and our schools. In 1995, Building Equality Together became the Diversity Council.

Since that time, the Diversity Council's focus has grown to include not only students, but also the adults who are their guides to the future. The Diversity Council's mission has also expanded to address an inclusive understanding of diversity--including ethnicity, age, socio-economic class, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical & mental disabilities, and a myriad of other differences.

Prejudice Reduction Workshops, the Diversity Council's flagship program, began in 1996 with a handful of facilitators reaching students at 3 Rochester middle schools. In the 2003-2004 school year, approximately 60 trained facilitators brought Prejudice Reduction Workshops to more than 15,000 students in Rochester Public Schools, private and parochial schools, and public schools in surrounding areas.

Diversity...It's all about respect.