Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/108313
Sarasota News Leader February 8, 2013 Page 99 cultural venues, including Florida Studio Theatre, Mote Marine Aquarium and The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. • A docent program that, via partnerships with Riverview, Southeast and North Port high schools, provides student-led tours of the annual exhibit, with more than 200 student docents participating in 2012. According to Embracing Our DifferencSiblings is by Melanie Chatot. Contributed Photo es founding co-chairman, Dennis McGillicuddy, "Of the nearly 24,000 students word adds a deeper dimension to the overall experience," he explains in the release. "We've who visited last year's exhibit, 18,000 were received over 2,000 quotes for consideration area students brought in via our free bus proand, with the artwork selected, we can now gram." begin the process of finding those perfect Since 2004, he adds in the release, "more than companion quotes." 117,000 students have participated in EmbracThe annual outdoor art exhibit is the center- ing Our Differences' various education initiapiece of a year-round program of activities de- tives. We look forward to expanding on this signed to further Embracing Our Differences' during this 10th anniversary season." mission to use art as a catalyst for creating For more information about this exhibit or Emawareness and promoting the value of diver- bracing Our Differences, please call 323-1010 sity, the release points out. Aside from the an- or visit www.embracingourdifferences.org. nual outdoor exhibition, Embracing Our Differences' ongoing educational outreach programs and initiatives include the following: • Teacher workshops developed by nationally acclaimed educators to provide curricula and lesson plans relating to art appreciation, character building and diversity education. • The Make-a-Day-of-It! program, providing free bus transportation for area students and teachers to the outdoor exhibit and to other You Me Them Everybody is by Olivia Junghans. Contributed photo