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Summer Tolerance Institute

The Testimony to Tolerance Initiative at the Central Arkansas Library System and the Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission of the City of Little Rock share a common mission of promoting tolerance, understanding and diversity appreciation among students through dialogue and education.

Together, they present the Summer Tolerance Institute. The Summer Tolerance Institute is a one-day program designed for high school students. The Institute will consist of a series of workshops and presentations where students will explore ways to embrace and celebrate diversity — all while reinforcing the themes of tolerance, inclusion and respect.

The Summer Tolerance Institute will be held on Monday, July 19th from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Central Arkansas Library System Main Library in the Darragh Center located at 100 Rock Street, Little Rock, AR.

The Summer Tolerance Institute is FREE and open to all high school students. Interested students must register by July 14, 2010 (space is limited). Click here for a registration form.

If you have questions, you are welcome to e-mail Amanda Ferguson, Educational Site Coordinator, at the Testimony to Tolerance Initiative or phone at 501.918.3079.

USHMM Butterfly Project

USHMM Butterfly Project poster

The ADAPT club at Arkansas School For Math Science and the Arts in Hot Springs has participated in the USHMM Butterfly Project and the activity was a great success. About 60 kids came and made about 88 butterflies, which they are sending to the Holocaust Museum Houston. The kids had foreign foods and drinks and music and art supplies provided by the ADAPT club. Click here to view the montage poster that the drawing/composition teacher made after photographing the butterflies that kids made last week.

For more information on the butterfly project can be found at Holocaust Museum Houston's website.

Art and Writing Contest Middle and High School Winners

High School Winners of the 2010 Art and Writing ContestHigh School 1st and 2nd place winners of the 2009/2010 Art and Writing contest. Winners Lucy Richardson and Patrick Phelan, both of Little Rock Central High School. The student winners are accompanied by Central High Principal Nancy Rousseau, Little Rock School Board President Charles Armstrong, and Testimony to Tolerance educator Amanda Ferguson.

Middle School Winners of the 2010 Art and Writing ContestMiddle School winners of the 2009/2010 Art and Writing contest. Winners Faith Roberts, Destaney Duiguid, and Anna Wahls, all of Horace Mann Middle School. The student winners are accompanied by their teacher, Rugenal Anderson, Horace Mann Principal Patricia Boykin, Little Rock School Board President Charles Armstrong, Testimony to Tolerance educator Amanda Ferguson, and Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission Program Manager Ericka Benedicto.

Art and Writing Contest Winners Announced

High School 3rd place winner of the 2009/2010 Art and Writing contest Brandon Word of JA Fair High School. Brandon is accompanied by his teacher, Ms. Linda Hall.The Testimony to Tolerance Initiative and the Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission Of Little Rock are proud to announce the winners in both the Middle and High School divisions of the Lessons from the past…Visions of the future Art and Writing contest for 2009/2010:

Middle School Winners

1st place — Faith Roberts; Horace Mann Middle School for her essay titled: "Strength Through Diversity"
2nd place — Destiny Duguid; Horace Mann Middle School for her essay titled "The Testimony to Tolerance"
3rd place — Anna Wahls; Horace Mann Middle School for her essay titled: "Tolerance in my daily Life"

High School Winners

1st place — Lucy Richardson; Little Rock Central high School for her essay titled "United We Stand, Divided We Fall"
2nd place — Patrick S. Phelan; Little Rock Central High School for his essay titled "MY Testimony to Tolerance"
3rd place — Brandon Word; JA Fair High School for his artwork titled "Tolerating Diversity"

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Photo: High School 3rd place winner of the 2009/2010 Art and Writing contest Brandon Word of JA Fair High School. Brandon is accompanied by his teacher, Ms. Linda Hall.

Using Technology to Teach Diversity and Tolerance

using technology to teach diversity workshopThe Testimony to Tolerance Initiative, in partnership with the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, presented the workshop "Using Technology to Teach Diversity and Tolerance" as part of the Arkansas Education Association conference. There were 44 teachers, Library Media Specialists, and Curriculum team leaders in attendance from throughout the four corners of the state of Arkansas. Attendees learned about resources available through the Central Arkansas Library System such as visual history interviews of Holocaust Survivors and other witnesses as well as oral history interviews related to race relations in Arkansas History. They were also treated to hands on activities in the afternoon such as the development of "edible handouts" as well as guided online searching of both the Butler Center and the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education websites, and a viewing of the Shoah documentary "One Human Spirit".

A.D.A.P.T. (Advocating Diversity and Promoting Tolerance) Clubs

A.D.A.P.T. is a school-based diversity club developed by the USC Shoah Foundation Institute as part of the Testimony to Tolerance Initiative, McClellan High School has established an A.D.A.P.T. chapter with an initial membership of 52 students. This club is planning to build a "tolerance wall" mural in their school, host guest speakers and panel discussions, and participate in diversity activities throughout Southwest Little Rock. Another club is under development at J.A. Fair High School in Little Rock.

Teacher Training

teachers in training

The Testimony to Tolerance Initiative has conducted two on-site professional development workshops with the Little Rock School District, for more than 80 middle and high school teachers. During these interactive workshops, student activities built around the testimonies in the Little Rock Visual History Collection were modeled and then distributed with a DVD of testimony clips to participants. Through the use of clips of eyewitness testimony, workshop participants from a variety of disciplines explored topics and themes easily adaptable for use in their own classrooms.

Distance Learning Workshop

A one hour mini workshop focusing on using Testimony in the classroom was held on October 31, 2008. Seven teachers in attendance were showed clips along with readymade materials and lessons, discussed multiple uses for testimony in the classroom, and ways to incorporate activities into what they are already doing. Also, a demonstration of the use of the USC Shoah Foundation website with a brief introduction to the online exhibits was done. To date, this workshop has extended to 23 students across Arkansas.

Art and Writing Contest

winners of the art and writing contest

The Art and Writing contest was an opportunity for middle and high school students in the CALS service area to explore their own attitude and behaviors towards bias. The goal was to inspire a dialogue that promotes tolerance in today's complex world. Students accessed some of the Institute's video testimonies of Holocaust survivors and other witnesses to learn about prejudice, fairness, justice, and scapegoating to prepare for the contest. Awards were presented to first and second place winners in both middle and high school divisions as well as a middle school third place winner.

2009 Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Testimony to Tolerance Initiative partnered with the Jewish Federation of Arkansas to present the 2009 Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day program in Little Rock. The event took place at Congregation B'nai Israel with more than 200 people in attendance. Events included a showing of the documentary The Last Days followed by a memorial candle lighting ceremony. Participants in the ceremony included representatives from L'Oreal USA, Inc. and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, both of which provide funding for the Testimony to Tolerance Initiative, along with the Jewish Federation of Arkansas. Other participants included local television newscasters, authors, teachers, community leaders, and Holocaust survivors, including two whose testimonies are part of the Little Rock Visual History Collection.