January 2008 Dear Valued Supporter: As we begin preparing for our ...

®
www.EmbracingOurDifferences.org
January 2008
Dear Valued Supporter:
COEXISTENCE, INC.
P.O. BOX 2559
SARASOTA, FL 34230-2559
PHONE • 941-928-0567
FAX • 941-953-2694
Steering Committee
Co-chairs
Carol & Carroll
Buchanan
Graci & Dennis
McGillicuddy
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Michael J. Shelton
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Scott Anderson
Bernadette Bennett
Richard Bergman
Silvia Blanco
Alice Cotman
Tim Dutton
Arlene Greene
Teri Hansen
Sherry Lawrence
Jeremy Lisitza
Barbara J. Lorry
Joan Lowery
Leslie Malkin
Nancy Roucher
Delia Smith-Orth
Stewart Stearns
Joni Steinberg
Jake Thomas
Tammy Walsh
Sally Yanowitz
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Grace Carlson, APR
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Tim Cameresi
®
As we begin preparing for our 2008 Embracing Our Differences® Art Exhibit, we
would like to reflect upon the success of last year’s Exhibit. Once again, over
120,000 visitors came to Island Park, on Sarasota’s beautiful bay front, to view
and experience the powerful and thoughtful artwork coupled with inspiring
quotations. We actually had an 11% increase in our average daily attendance,
even though about the same number of people overall attended the Exhibit as
the prior year because we had fewer exhibition days this past year. This brings
to over 400,000 people who have come to see our Exhibit since we began this
project in 2004.
We also bussed in just over 8,000 students from schools in Sarasota, Manatee
and Charlotte counties, an increase of 60% over 2006. The importance of our
efforts in our local schools is demonstrated by the fact that, for example, 27% of
students in Sarasota County felt they were the victim of bullying and in Manatee
County, students speak over 70 different languages. Continuing our outcome
measurements discipline, we documented that over half of the students surveyed
reported learning something new about diversity and 81% planned to make
changes because of viewing the Exhibit. Of adults surveyed, 84% felt strongly
that speaking out against prejudice was important while 73% of repeat visitors
reported making changes in behavior or attitude. This is significant for us as it
demonstrates that by bringing back our Exhibit year after year, with new and
original artwork, we will have a more lasting effect on our community.
In 2007, we also received a record-setting number of submissions, attracting
nearly 1100 entries for artists, quotation authors, school children and community
members – a 120% increase from last year. One-third of the artwork and almost
half of the quotations selected for inclusion were created by students. With the
final selections made, the Exhibit kicked off on April 1 st with an Opening Day
Celebration, where over 1000 community members gathered to get their first
glimpse of the 2007 display.
Other events during April of 2007 included a stimulating panel discussion with the
Van Wezel’s Festival Diapente on the topic of art’s ability to affect social change.
We also offered two free interactive diversity workshops that has spawned the
creation of “Speaking of Diversity”, an ongoing volunteer based diversity training
experience that is being offered to both profit and non-profit organizations in
our community.
Overall, 2007 was an exceptional year for our Exhibit and related activities.
Community Partners

In 2008, our dedicated Steering Committee has made the strengthening
of our educational component the focus of our continuing efforts to
deliver our message. Although we have seen a steady increase in our
effectiveness in this area, this year’s efforts have already created a
new and powerful written curriculum to assist teachers in facilitating
the involvement of their students. We are so grateful for the help
of a number of teachers, already committed to our efforts, who
participated in the creation of this new curriculum. We also expect
a significant increase in the number of students who will be bussed
to the Exhibit, free of charge, as a result of the continuing financial
support of our donors and the increasing cooperation of the Sarasota
and Manatee school system. There are many benefits from putting
on a multi year Exhibit, including increased community awareness
and in the increasing sophistication in how we deliver our message.
We are definitely seeing these benefits manifest themselves in our
educational efforts in our schools.
A project as large as Embracing Our Differences® requires the
support of many people and organizations. We wish to acknowledge
all of those who have played a role in supporting our efforts.
These include you, our very generous donors, as well as our many
volunteers. It also includes our Community Partners made up of the
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, the Sarasota-Manatee
Jewish Federation, SCOPE, the Ringling College of Art + Design, the
Community Foundation of Sarasota and newly joined Partner, the
University of South Florida. Each of these organizations makes a very
special contribution. As always, the City of Sarasota deserves our
special thanks for allowing us to occupy our beautiful downtown bay
front park, which provides the perfect venue for our community to
view the Exhibit. A special thanks also to North Port High School,
who will host our Exhibit for the third year so that members of our
South County community may more easily attend the Exhibit. Lastly,
our deep gratitude is extended to Michael Shelton and our 25 person
Steering Committee, whose tireless efforts and commitment form the
bedrock on which Embracing Our Differences® stands.
Once again, we look forward to our 2008 Exhibit and providing
an opportunity for our community to reflect upon and deepen its
awareness that Embracing Our Differences®, respecting the views of
others and standing up against hatred and prejudice, will lead to a
better world for everyone.
Embracing Our Differences® Steering Committee Co-Chairs
Graci & Dennis McGillicuddy
Carol & Carroll Buchanan
“The blind
can see the soul of a
person without being
blinded
by their appearance.”
– Lauren Dobbins, 9th Grade
The Out of Door Academy
“The world is a library.
It is only as good as the
variety of books on its
shelves. No one wants
to visit a library
with only one book.”
– Levi Bradford, 6th Grade
McIntosh Middle School
“I went to a small, private
school where everyone’s
background was similar.
I learned how to multiply.
Then I went to a school
where everyone’s
background was different.
I learned how to live.”
– Allison Klein, 11th Grade
Professional Children’s School

“It is heartening that Sarasota’s core values of tolerance
and diversity are so publicly celebrated and encouraged by
Embracing Our Differences®
thus bringing us back to the unity of purpose
so important to our success as a community.”
– Ken Shelin
Sarasota City Commissioner
“Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful committed citizens
can change the world; indeed,
it’s the only thing that ever does.”
– Margaret Mead

“You must be the
change you wish
to see in the world.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
2007 SPONSORS
Exhibit Sponsors: Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice | Ed Kalin / Kane’s Furniture of Sarasota
Graci & Dennis McGillicuddy | Herald Tribune Media Group | The City of Sarasota
Associate Exhibit Sponsors: Larry & Laura Herrig | The Imagine Foundation / Bill & Christine Issac | Ed, Mimi & Allison Klein
Eldon & Marge Herrig Family Foundation Fund of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc.
Sarasota Manatee Jewish Federation | ABC 7 WWSB | Comcast | Scene Magazine | Udell Associations | The Zenith
School Sponsors: David & Lisa Grain | Intershow / Charles, Kim & Charlie Githler | Connie & Priscilla Mack
Steve & Kate McKenna | Bank of America | Ringling College of Art + Design | Stanford Group Company
Art Panel Sponsors: David & Myrna Band | Carroll & Carol Buchanan | Tim Cameresi | Margot & Warren Coville
Grace Unlimited | Bobbi & Will Lorry | Ora & Joseph Mendels Family Foundation | Michael & Katie Moulton | Northern Trust
Serbin Printing | Sarasota Film Society | Betty Schoenbaum | Michael Shelton | Van Wezel Foundation | Sally Yanowitz
Half Panel Sponsors: Les & Genie Aberson | Richard & Rebecca Bergman | Bea Friedman | Barbara J. Lupoff | Leslie Malkin
Irving & Marilyn Naiditch | The Tarr Charitable Family Foundation | The Tillie, Jennie & Harold Schwartz Foundation | Dorothy Waldron
School Bus Sponsors: Rita Adler | Jack & Shirley Brown | Bob & Dottie Garner | Teri A. & Randolph M. Hansen Charitable Fund
Patti & Richard Hershorin | Chris, Jill & Amelia Malkin | Josh & Jessica Malkin | Betty T. Schiff | Ambassador & Mrs. William Schwartz
Bruce & Naomi Wertheimer
Quotation Sponsors: Dan & Nancy Bailey | Carol Camiener & Jim Herrington | Alice Cotman | Lavonne Smith Freed | Ruth S. Gluck
Betsy & John Kane-Hartnett | Betty & Marie Healy Family Foundation | Marlene & John Isaacs III | Judy & Jerry Levinson
Dr. Robert & Linda Rosenbluth | Richard & Janet Smalley | Delia Smith-Orth | The Society, Inc. / Florida Suncoast Chapter | SunTrust Bank
David & Lois Stulberg Foundation | Harriette S. & Charles L. Tabas Foundation
Goldijean & Alan Turow Donor Advised Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota, County, Inc. | Wooster Unity Project
THE MISSION of Embracing Our Differences® is to use art as a catalyst for creating awareness and promoting,
throughout our community, the value of diversity,
the benefits of inclusion and the significance of the active rejection of hatred and prejudice.