Bridging the Gap between people and cultures Mission Mission: Diversity Foundation, Inc is committed to bridging the gaps between people of all cultures and ethnicity. Our mission is to facilitate, build and create interaction, understanding and dialogue between diverse cultures, sharing in a meaningful common inclusive society where the gap between persons of all cultures, disabilities, gender and religious differences may be accepted and bridged. State of need: In recent years, Rural and Greater areas of Minnesota and the Midwest find themselves with rapidly changing demographics and cultural makeup. All over these geographic areas, people of good intent struggle to create an inclusive & peaceful society but often are unable to bridge the barriers of race, culture and conditioning. By the nature of past patterns of existence, most people have little experience in cross cultural as well as intercultural communication and collaboration. Few are able to take the initial steps in establishing communication and even fewer can maintain this initiative. Often this inexperience causes more harm than good in spite of honorable intentions. History: Diversity Foundation, Inc. was begun several years ago by a group of professionals dedicated to using their varied backgrounds and expertise in providing a network of human resources that could educate, enlighten, and entertain communities to help facilitate peaceful interactions between diverse cultures. The Foundation has evolved into an organization with three main project areas including multimedia intercultural education, liaison support to organizations involved in multicultural and disability

In the fall of 1997 Diversity Foundation, Inc. was determined exempt from federal tax under 501 (3) (c) and 170 (b) (A) (vi) as a single-source, intercultural networking group. The group was designed to:

• educate and inform the general public about diversity within the state of Minnesota,
• provide multicultural and diversity training for businesses, schools, civic groups and other private and public organizations,
• provide a variety of services such as personal counseling, vocational testing and training, legal counseling, work therapy, school scholarships/individuals to achieve social and economic independence.

Goals:
1. To educate, inform, and motivate the general public about diversity within the state of Minnesota (and the Midwest) through the use of Documentaries, Seminars, workshops and cultural activities including Multimedia productions in collaboration with minority organizations and other multiculturally focused foundations and organizations.

The Foundation has developed an extensive network of human resources here in Minnesota, as well as Nationally and Internationally, that can provide consultation and education in intercultural relations tailored to the needs of both public and private organizations. DF has helped organize, develop and facilitate a variety of Cultural activities to include a Diversity seminar concept, entitled "Finding Opportunities in Diverse Communities" along with other Reconciliation events around Minnesota and the Midwest (see website, link to seminar etc)

Our Multimedia productions component is rapidly becoming a most important venue for the foundation. This multicultural video team is dedicated to enabling diverse populations achieve greater social and economic independence and understanding through the use of affordable media and technology. This team has been researching, recording, photographing as well as interviewing elders and leaders across cultures. Again, Diversity's mission is to facilitate, build and create interaction, understanding and dialogue between all persons, especially those who have been historically neglected, silent or grossly misrepresented by our traditional media and educational resources. The Diversity Foundation's primary purpose is to help "Bridge the Gap" between the minority and majority populations through improved understanding and communications. Since 1997, the Foundation has presented its annual "Bridging the Gap" Awards to many individuals who have best exemplified these qualities of Unity involving Diversity in their personal lives and communities. (link to 'Bridging the Gap' Awards on DF website)

In addition, plans are being made to offer Scholarships, Internships and Cultural exchange programs to introduce and encourage minority populations to consider the field of video/media and other areas including medical, law enforcement and aviation. (professions once considered off-limits to them for various reasons.)

2. To provide intercultural and disability awareness and liaison support to public organizations striving to improve their cultural understanding and diversity by providing training and a variety of services such as Diversity seminars, personal and psychological counseling, testing and training and/or cultural referrals. In addition programs involving "At Risk" youth are on-going with plans of expansion once funding becomes available. At present, coordination and liaison with existing organizations currently providing these services (in a quality and culturally sensitive manner) will generally be our first concern and objective.

Diversity Foundation and its culturally Diverse Board of Directors and Advisors have a vast degree of education, experience and interest related to the areas mentioned above. (See/link to Board of Directors/Consultants and Advisory team on DF Website). A major DF objective is to utilize this talent productively by serving as a facilitator for Social Change, Racial and Religious Tolerance, and Cultural growth & understanding across Minnesota and the Midwest.

3. To provide a support system for Minority organizations, artists, entertainers/musicians, cultural speakers and storytellers as well as Tribal and other Rural communities requesting intervention and positive Cultural models and experiences previously unavailable to their communities in addressing the rapid ethnic and racial demographic changes recently occurring in their schools and communities.