Positive News US is a free, not for profit newspaper published four times a year in Ithaca, NY. We report on successful projects around the world in the areas of sustainability, social equality, education and happiness, with a clear message that "another world is possible."
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We Celebrate Diversity |
Audrey Cooper
Photo: © Denise Cermanski
Photo: © Denise Cermanski
by Denise Cermanski
ITHACA, NY The Multicultural Resource Center (MRC), formed in the 1980's by a group of concerned citizens, is dedicated to creating a dialogue around diversity issues, especially racism, in Tompkins County. Directed by Audrey Cooper, the center offers information, support, workshops, training, books, tapes, and celebrations around diversity.
Audrey recognizes the community's need to have cultural resources and materials and thus the MRC boasts an active lending library that is available to the public every weekday. Everyone is allowed to borrow books for as long as needed, free of charge. The center also accepts donations of books and magazines that cover topics of multiculturalism.
In addition to their lending library, the MRC performs diversity training in the community at conferences, agencies, workshops and after school programs. One of Audrey's most positive moments came from working with a youth group. "I was working with a group of children, predominantly white, and I could see it draw on the kids that they had culture too. I was able to show them that culture was not only for people of color, but that everyone had it. The kids soon told me of the new respect they had for culture."
The center embraces a multiprogramming approach to assist with diversity issues. "I use interconnectedness to approach these issues because everyone has a different learning style. Programming can't be one way or another, there has to be multiprogramming to reach the most people in the most effective way. Each program has so many teachable moments and we try to reach out to the community and maximize the amount of teachable moments."
Contact: Audrey Cooper
Tel: 607-273-8724
Address: Multicultural Resource Center
Cooperative Extension building
615 Willow Ave. Ithaca
Website: www.multicultural-resource.org
ITHACA, NY The Multicultural Resource Center (MRC), formed in the 1980's by a group of concerned citizens, is dedicated to creating a dialogue around diversity issues, especially racism, in Tompkins County. Directed by Audrey Cooper, the center offers information, support, workshops, training, books, tapes, and celebrations around diversity.
Audrey recognizes the community's need to have cultural resources and materials and thus the MRC boasts an active lending library that is available to the public every weekday. Everyone is allowed to borrow books for as long as needed, free of charge. The center also accepts donations of books and magazines that cover topics of multiculturalism.
In addition to their lending library, the MRC performs diversity training in the community at conferences, agencies, workshops and after school programs. One of Audrey's most positive moments came from working with a youth group. "I was working with a group of children, predominantly white, and I could see it draw on the kids that they had culture too. I was able to show them that culture was not only for people of color, but that everyone had it. The kids soon told me of the new respect they had for culture."
The center embraces a multiprogramming approach to assist with diversity issues. "I use interconnectedness to approach these issues because everyone has a different learning style. Programming can't be one way or another, there has to be multiprogramming to reach the most people in the most effective way. Each program has so many teachable moments and we try to reach out to the community and maximize the amount of teachable moments."
Contact: Audrey Cooper
Tel: 607-273-8724
Address: Multicultural Resource Center
Cooperative Extension building
615 Willow Ave. Ithaca
Website: www.multicultural-resource.org
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