Diversity

Toward a More Perfect Union

Overview Success Stories Resources News Articles

The pressures of an increasingly diverse nation are visible in many of our most complex public issues, such as education, taxes, welfare, and immigration. They also are evident in daily life - whether in open conflict among groups, or in tensions and misperceptions that simmer beneath the surface.

Dialogue-to-change programs help people build the trusting relationships necessary for long-term change. People from diverse backgrounds and experiences develop trust, understand each other's experiences, and work together on solutions.

Read profiles of programs strengthening their diverse communities

Success Stories

Montgomery County (Md.) schools enlist Hispanic parents to improve student success

A growing Hispanic student population prompts a Silver Spring, Md., school to engage Hispanic parents in finding ways to increase their involvement in schools for the success of all students. Read more

Montgomery County (Md.) schools enlist Hispanic parents to improve student success

'Taste' event spotlights study circles

Jackson Hole, Wyo., residents work together on immigration

All success stories...

Resources

Spanish-Language Discussion Guide: Hacia una unión más perfecta en una era de diversidad.

Comprehensive Discussion Guide: Toward a More Perfect Union in an Age of Diversity: A Guide for Building Stronger Communities Through Public Dialogue

Video: Montgomery County Public School Study Circles (VHS)

Video: Montgomery County Public School Study Circles (DVD )

Newsletter: Focus on Everyday Democracy (Spring 2009) (Volume 20, Issue 1)

Video: Montgomery County Public School students sharing their dialogue-to-change experiences

All resources...

News Articles

September 13, 2009 | The Tribune | Ames, Iowa Embracing, not fearing diversity in Ames, Iowa 11 days of global unity: City and community
by Adam Cotton

September 12, 2009 | Quincy Herald-Whig | Quincy, Illinois Ethnic foods highlight of Quincy Cultural Festival
by Rodney Hart

September 11, 2009 | Quincy Herald-Whig | Quincy, Illinois Third annual Cultural Festival will celebrate heritage of Quincy's ethnic groups

All news articles...

Success Stories

Montgomery County (Md.) schools enlist Hispanic parents to improve student success

'Taste' event spotlights study circles

Hundreds of Aurora, Ill., residents turned out on May 8 for Aurora Community Study Circles annual "Downtown Aurora Taste" fundraising event to support the city's successful study circle efforts and eat great food. Read more

Jackson Hole, Wyo., residents work together on immigration

With a growing Latino population, the recreation-oriented town of Jackson Hole, Wyo., is taking part in study circles to address both the opportunities and the challenges of the area’s changing demographics. Read more

Burlington Free Press transforms coverage of racism and diversity

Through a citywide study circle program on racism, The Burlington Free Press (Vt.) found a new way to hear Burlington’s diverse voice. Read more

Changing the world, a little bit at a time

On a blustery March day, in Kenosha, Wis., more than 350 high school students took part in the “Diversity Circles in Action” conference to confront racism and embrace diversity. Read more

Ames, Iowa, celebrates diversity

In October 2002, volunteers for the second year organized a citywide festival to celebrate its diversity of folk life in dance, song, traditional arts, and ethnic foods in the community. As part of an action proposal from the community's study circles, the FACES (Families of Ames Celebrate EthnicitieS) festival drew more than 5,000 people and featured a variety of cultural events. Read more

Resources

Hacia una unión más perfecta en una era de diversidad. (1997)

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Toward a More Perfect Union in an Age of Diversity: A Guide for Building Stronger Communities Through Public Dialogue (1997)

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Montgomery County Public School Study Circles VHS (2006)

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Montgomery County Public School Study Circles DVD (2006)

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Focus on Everyday Democracy (Spring 2009) Volume 20, Issue 1 (2009)

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Montgomery County Public School students sharing their dialogue-to-change experiences (2008)

News Articles

September 13, 2009 | The Tribune | Ames, Iowa Embracing, not fearing diversity in Ames, Iowa 11 days of global unity: City and community
by Adam Cotton

September 12, 2009 | Quincy Herald-Whig | Quincy, Illinois Ethnic foods highlight of Quincy Cultural Festival
by Rodney Hart

September 11, 2009 | Quincy Herald-Whig | Quincy, Illinois Third annual Cultural Festival will celebrate heritage of Quincy's ethnic groups

July 22, 2009 | Morris County, New Jersey Effort to address diversity generates online story series

July 5, 2009 | The Times | Munster, Indiana Minorities up in local suburban schools
by Carmen McCollum

July 2, 2009 | The Tribune | Ames, Iowa Party trailer offers Ames, Iowa, neighborhoods new way to connect Introducing the Street ’N’ Greet
by Jennifer Meyer

April 5, 2009 | Kenosha News | Kenosha, Wisconsin Discussing Diversity (and beyond) Group honors Diversity Circles organizer at UW-Parkside for addressing racism issues
by Diane Giles

February 6, 2009 | The Bowdoin Orient | Bowdoin College, Maine Dialogue circles explore ‘identity’ at Bowdoin Students meet in the Multicultural Center to discuss “taboo topics” of Bowdoin social life
by Piper Grosswendt

January 31, 2009 | Pine Bluff Commercial | Pine Bluff, Arkansas Pine Bluff 20/20 study circle conducts trial run
by Erin France

January 24, 2009 | Pine Bluff Commercial | Pine Bluff, Arkansas Study Circles can bring down fences
by Erin France

November 19, 2008 | Iowa State Daily | Ames, Iowa Forum explores ways to make Ames more inclusive
by Traci Kasperbauer

September 18, 2008 | Herald Times Reporter | Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Diversity isn't just a buzzword in Manitowoc County, Wis. Diversity key to Ethnic Fest success
by Editorial

March 3, 2008 | Fond du Lac Reporter | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Community's first-ever cultural event to promote diversity Embracing diversity is aim of Saturday cultural event in FdL
by Sharon Roznik

January 15, 2008 | The Louisville Courier-Journal | Louisville, Kentucky Two-day diversity conference set for Clarksville Martha L. McCoy to deliver keynote

October 15, 2007 | Sun Journal | Lewiston, Maine Community conversations to bridge cultures to continue, group says
by Scott Taylor

October 4, 2007 | Mundelein Review | Mundelein, Illinois Study Circles seeks community input
by Millie Naughton

September 28, 2007 | Daily Herald | Mundelein, Illinois District 76 ready to take ideas to next level
by Mick Zawislak

September 23, 2007 | Burlington Free Press | Burlington, Vermont My Turn: Schools expand diversity actions
by Jeanne Collins, Letter to the Editor

September 16, 2007 | Quincy Herald-Whig | Quincy, Illinois Quincy, Ill., continues to tackle racial barriers Study circles help community progress
by Edward Husar

September 9, 2007 | Quincy Herald Whig | Quincy, Illinois Quincy comes together over its African-American heritage
by Kelly Wilson

August 21, 2007 | The Beacon News | Aurora, Illinois Study circles planted seeds we can water
by Editorial

June 25, 2007 | The Appleton Post-Crescent | Fox Cities, Wisconsin Project Promise compels community to keep spotlight on poverty
by Kara Patterson

May 16, 2007 | Daily Herald | Diamond Lake, Illinois Diversity study circle begins to branch out
by Mick Zawislak

May 9, 2007 | The Beacon News | Aurora, Illinois Hundreds show for Aurora taste Food, entertainment draws during annual Study Circles fundraiser
by David Garbe

May 1, 2007 | Appleton Post-Crescent | Appleton, Wisconsin Project Promise organizers hope to keep momentum Initiative receives anti-poverty award
by Kara Patterson

April 25, 2007 | Journal Times | Somers, WI Timely seminar provides way for communities to address problems
by Phyllis Sides

April 12, 2007 | Chicago Tribune | Mundelein, Illinois Schools fight to manage change Diversity is isssue in Mundelein area
by Lisa Black

April 3, 2007 | Casper Star-Tribune | Jackson, Wyoming We have to integrate
by Whitney Royster

March 16, 2007 | The Seguin Gazette - Enterprise | Seguin, Texas Professor hopes event will unite people
by David DeKunder

December 12, 2006 | Hartford Courant | West Hartford, Connecticut Forum takes on race Participants discuss changing town
by Fulvio Cativo

October 6, 2006 | Daily Record | Morristown, New Jersey Morris 'circles' to focus on community diversity Immigration, jobs, schools, language differences to be discussed in small groups

September 21, 2006 | The Star Press | Muncie, Indiana Festival to celebrate 'Unity in DiverCity'

September 6, 2006 | Times Leader | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Diversity group tries resolution technique Study circles are tried out to see if task force wants to use them on a bigger scale.
by Janine Ungvarsky

August 31, 2006 | Register-Guard | Springfield, Oregon Students an invaluable source of inspiration
by Ed Mendelssohn

August 4, 2006 | USA Today Cities make quiet plea for tolerance
by Haya El Nasser

May 23, 2006 | Post-Crescent | Appleton, Wisconsin Diversity Circles use discussion to spur action
by Kara Patterson

May 18, 2006 | Living in West Hartford Magazine | West Hartford, Connecticut Getting 'WHIRED' in West Hartford, Conn.
by Ronni Newton

May 15, 2006 | Herald Times Reporter | Manitowoc, Wisconsin Forum to expand county's Diversity Circles
by Kristopher Wenn

April 29, 2006 | Beacon News | Aurora, Illinois Day of Dialogue driven by diversity
by Matt Hanley

April 28, 2006 | Beacon News | Aurora, Illinois Aurora celebrates Day of Dialogue

March 27, 2006 | Apple Post-Crescent | Appleton, Wisconsin Diversity forums stress strength in unity Community circles strive to bring people together
by Kara Patterson

March 23, 2006 | Inside the Circle, Spring 2006 | Montgomery County, Maryland High school students "Tell It!" Paint Branch Students "Tell It!"
by Study Circles Program of Montgomery County Public Schools

March 22, 2006 | Journal Times Online | Racine, Wisconsin Drumming up diverse conversations Students gather for fouth annual "Diversity Circles in Action" conference
by Phyllis Sides

March 7, 2006 | Aurora Beacon News | Aurora, Illinois A Day of Dialogue in Aurora, Ill. April 28 event aims to unite diverse community
by Tim Wagner

March 6, 2006 | Green Bay Press-Gazette | Green Bay, Wisconsin Uniting cultures in Brown County, Wis. Project aims to unite area's cultures
by Kelly McBride

January 22, 2006 | Lakeshore Chronicle | Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Experiencing other cultures in Manitowoc County, Wis. Cultural differences come to the forefront as participants 'learn from each other'
by Cindy Hodgson

November 9, 2005 | The Mountain Echo | Mount St. Mary's University, Maryland Mix-It-Up dialogues to help understand different views
by Kelly Pilger

October 19, 2005 | The Northeastern News | Boston, Massachusetts Diversity dialogues seek to effect change
by Bessie King

October 17, 2005 | Green Bay Press-Gazette | Green Bay, Wisconsin Diversity Circles expands program Group planning a fair, events for public, schools
by Cynthia Hodnett

October 16, 2005 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier | Waterloo, Iowa Study Circles environment at odds with the real world
by Cherie Nelson

October 2, 2005 | Everett Herald | Snohomish County, Washington Cultural diversity celebrated About 750 people gather around Snohomish County to promote diverse cultures through dance, education and food.
by Melissa Slager

July 21, 2005 | The Barre Montpelier Times Argus (Letters) | Montpelier, VT Diversity festival in Montpelier, Vt.
by Marc Harmon

February 27, 2005 | The Star Press | Muncie, IN Diversity brings unity to community
by Rick Yencer

February 21, 2005 | The Star Press | Muncie, IN Citizens need to be aware of diversity

February 20, 2005 | The Star Press | Muncie, IN Muncie Coming Together will provide an opportunity for people to discuss issues
by Dana Young

October 19, 2004 | Green Bay Press-Gazette | Greenbay, WI Program urges residents to embrace area's diversity
by Jose de Jesus

October 3, 2004 | Green Bay Press-Gazette | Green Bay, WI Upcoming meetings designed to encourage diversity Sessions intended to make minority population feel more welcome in Brown County
by Cynthia Hodnett

September 23, 2004 | Fond du Lac Reporter | Fond du Lac, WI Racial diversity circles offer chance to meet new neighbors

June 19, 2004 | Columbia Daily News | Columbia, MO State Farm models diversity program on study circles
by John Sullivan

October 7, 2003 | Fond du Lac Reporter | Fond du Lac, WI New diversity circles are forming in Fond du Lac
by Kelly Tucker

May 2, 2002 | Columbia Daily Tribune | Columbia, MO Best discussions of diversity draw everyone into circle
by Tony Messenger

April 28, 2002 | Columbia Daily Tribune | Columbia, MO Program focuses on diversity, racism
by Chris Birk

October 21, 2001 | The Beacon News | Aurora, IL Study Circles kicks off program year focused on peace
by Linda Girardi

June 23, 2001 | The State Journal-Register | Springfield, IL Celebration of diversity to counter Hale visit
by Jayette Bolinski

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