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March 13-15, 2019
On Mar 13 –15, the Diversity Coalition co-sponsored with several other Local like-minded organizations, the Documentary Film “Bias” at the 2019 SLO Film Fest. Screenings of the film were held at SLO Rock and Downtown Cinemas.
March 14, 2019
Ribbon cutting, at Chamber of Commerce.
Pictured L-R are Board members Joe Whitaker (yellow collar), Board President Rudy Xavier (black), Board members Kathy Minck and Kendra Paulding
March 7, 2019 New Times Article
Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo: Five cities organization rebrands to serve entire county
The Five Cities Diversity Coalition is expanding to serve the entire county and recently renamed itself Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County.
Its purpose is to promote positive human understanding and behavior through charitable, scientific, and educational efforts at the intersection of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, ability, and all other aspects of identity. The coalition aims to increase cultural understanding through working with mayors, schools, law enforcement, citizens, and minority groups.
Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County President Rudy Xavier believes the way to grow cultural understanding is by providing education and resources to all ages.
"Not only do we have to educate the young, we seek to persuade the opinions of older groups," Xavier said.
The Coalition has partnered with the Lucia Mar Unified School District to bring in guest speakers. Last year, the coalition brought in two speakers who presented at Paulding and Judkins middle schools—Holocaust survivor Henry Oster, who spoke in March 2018, and Sudanese Civil War refugee Alepho Deng, who spoke in February 2018. During the assembly with Deng, Xavier went to the front of the room to take a photo of the middle school students.
The coalition and the district match speakers like Deng with English curriculum and books such as The Diary of Anne Frank and A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. Their collaboration also included the coalition's sponsorship of 22 teachers to visit the Museum of Tolerance in LA.
"We've been really lucky to have this partnership, and it's exciting to hear the Diversity Coalition is expanding," Lucia Mar Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Hillery Dixon said. "I'm hoping that other sites, other school districts, will be able to benefit from the same work because it's been so powerful for us."
On March 7 through 9th, the Coalition hosted 14 Lucia Mar Unified School District Middle School teachers from Judkins and Paulding Schools. Coalition board members Kathy Minck and Robin Reed and Superintendent Andy Stinson traveled with the teachers to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. They received specific information not only in the history of intolerance but also special sensitivity training which was also greatly appreciated by their substitute teachers.
March 7, 2019
Board members Robin Reed and Kathy Minck stand with Superintendent Andy Stenson at Museum of Tolerance
February 12, 2019
Sudanese refugee settler Joseph Jok spoke to both the 7th and 8th graders at Paulding and Judkins Middle Schools.
Joseph Jok related his enduring and trying experiences relocating, finding and placing Sudanese refugees displaced from their native countries often without further contact with their family or parents. Himself a native of Sudan, Joseph speaks 7 dialects from the area and is fluent in French and English as well.
Judkins Middle School Gymnasium
Joseph Jok
Coalition members and spouses hosted Joseph Jok at Marisol Restaurant
Jan 19, 2019
Coalition President Rudy Xavier with Women's March Truth to Power leaders Gail Bunting, Rita Casaverde, Terry Parry, Andrea Chmelik
Coalition Board Director Kathy Minck hosting the Coalition's exhibit table
Mitchell Park Gazebo as the group prepares to March