FRIENDS!

A Presentation by: Amber Larsen

Dedicated to Promoting Tolerance and Educating Children about Diversity!

What is FRIENDS! All About?

FRIENDS! is an organization dedicated to educating children about diversity.It is our goal to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to be respectful and accepting of others regardless of race, culture, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, appearance or opinion.

By raising awareness about this important issue, we can eliminate much of the prejudices and biases within our society.Children should learn at a young age that everyone can be a FRIEND!

You can help teach children to be tolerant and accepting

individuals!

You can be a leader in highlighting diversity in a

positive way!

REM

EM

BER

GO

ALS

Raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to be tolerant, accepting and loving individuals.

Raise awareness about how easily children can learn prejudices from parents, educators and other adults in their lives.

To educate people on how to effectively teach children about diversity and the importance of accepting others.

To create a society in which we can all be FRIENDS!

It is our goal to…

What to Keep in Mind:

Don’t be blind to differencesChildren begin to notice physical differences around two or three years old.

It’s okay to recognize that people are different! Variety is part of life!

Expose children to different cultures

Talk about diversity with children

Be careful of passing down your own biases or prejudices to children!

“Children absorb what they see around them. It is impossible to tell a child to do as you say and not as you do. Teaching diversity is the same. If you provide a child with constant lessons about diversity but do not prove yourself to be a tolerant individual, the child will not understand the concept. When it comes to diversity, you have to be very careful with hidden curriculum.” – Mr. Timothy Baker (Special Education Paraprofessional: Granby Connecticut Public Schools

Children are influenced by…

What they see in their homes, schools and neighborhoodsWhat they view in the media

What they learn from friends, relatives, neighbors, parents and teachers.

When talking about diversity with children…Use language that children can handle.

Explain diversity in a way that children can understand.Avoid censorship.Be natural.Remember that recognizing differences does not equal discrimination.Be considerate of other people’s feelings when addressing situations with your child.You can also use materials such as children’s books to assist in the learning process.

Some Good Children’s Books about Diversity:

David’s Drawings by Cathryn Falwell

How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina R. Friedman

I Love My Hair! by Natasha Tarpley

I Love Saturdays y Domingos by Alma Flor Ada

Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf

What have we accomplished so far?

Promoting and Raising Awareness Through the Use of Social Mediawww.facebook.com/friendsfordiversity

Reaching Out and Raising Awareness to the PublicFlyersWord of Mouth

Reaching Out and Raising Awareness to Public SchoolsGranby Connecticut Public SchoolsHartford Connecticut Public SchoolsHolyoke Massachusetts Public Schools

These Accomplishments Have Helped Us Make a Difference By…

Inspiring parents, educators and other adults to promote tolerance and educate children about diversity.

Successfully assisting in making the world a more tolerant, respectful and accepting place.

I Have Learned…

How to effectively network and develop relationships with working professionals.How to effectively research and use data.How to effectively promote a cause using a variety of different methods.How to use technology to research, communicate and for the promotion of my organization.and most importantly…

That by utilizing these skills, I can make a difference!

I have also learned how to be an effective leader!

Leaders need to be…StrongOutgoingWilling to ask questionsGood listenersDecision makersConfidentGood communicatorsCommittedInspirationalCreativePassionateFearless

By Developing The FRIENDS! Organization, I have become…

A more effective leaderBetter with time managementMore knowledgeable about research and technology.More outgoing.Better at networking and communicating

While walking into a toy store the day before todayI overheard a crayon box with many things to say"I don't like Red!" said Yellow and Green said "Nor do I""And no one here likes Orange but no one knows just why""We are a box of crayons that doesn't get alongSaid Blue to all the others "Something here is wrong"Well, I bought that box of crayons and took it home with meAnd laid out all the colors so the crayons all could seeThey watched me as I colored with Red and Blue and GreenAnd Black and White and Orange and every color in betweenThey watched as Green became the grass and Blue became the skyThe Yellow sun was shining bright on White clouds drifting byColors changing as they touched becoming something newThey watched me as I colored - they watched me till I was throughAnd when I finally finished I began to walk awayAnd as I did the crayon box had something more to say"I do like Red!" said Yellow and Green said, "so do I"And Blue you were terrific! So high up in the sky"We are a box of crayons each one of us uniqueBut when we get together the picture is more complete"

The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf

Please Visit and “Like” my Facebook Page!

Your support can make a difference in the lives of children and in the future of our world!

www.facebook.com/friendsfordiversity

Data That Has Been Gathered Has Been Provided By:

Technical Advisor/MentorKath Consolini, MSEd

Mrs. Consolini is currently employed by Hartford Connecticut Public Schools.She has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters of Science in Education in Special Education.Interviews:

Mr. Timothy BakerMr. Baker is currently a special education paraprofessional for Granby Connecticut Public Schools.

Mr. Kevin WillardMr. Willard is currently a high-school English teacher for Holyoke Massachusetts Public Schools.Articles By:

Janet Gonzalez-MenaChristopher J. Metzler, Ph.D.Linda Santora

Emily RosenbaumBarbara Kupetz Ed.D.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING MY PRESENTATION!

And Remember…

You have the power to promote tolerance and educate children about

diversity!