The Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) is working diligently to inspire cultural awareness and sensitivity in our state through education and outreach activities. The following are the new OCRC education initiatives. |
Culturally Competent Teachers: |
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission understands that a students’ success is largely based on the competency of his or her teacher. The Educator Standards Board (ESB) is responsible for developing educator standards, through professional development and new licensing requirements that will enhance the performance of educators across the state. The OCRC and the ESB have identified cultural competency as a key component of the newly created standards. Making cultural competency training a requirement of teacher licensure guarantees that education administrators are equipped to provide quality education to Ohio’s increasingly diverse student population. By participating in ESB hearings and keeping abreast of all newly written standards, the OCRC is continuing its commitment to promoting cultural competency and eliminating discrimination on all levels of education throughout the State of Ohio. |
Culturally Competent Students: |
Culturally competent students become culturally competent adults. The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is mandated to develop education programs that will seek to eliminate discrimination and promote cultural sensitivity in our schools and ultimately throughout our state. With this is mind; the OCRC will host a series of Cultural Student U.N. summits throughout the state for middle school students of various cultural backgrounds of rural, suburban and urban cities. Through a series of workshops, presentations and social activities, students will interact with and learn from one another. The Cultural Student U.N. will highlight the value of a diverse and multicultural educational experience. |
OCRC Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art and Essay Contest: |
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission holds an annual contest where 3500 Ohio schools are invited to participate in the OCRC Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Arts and Essay Contest. Grades 3-5 students were asked to submit a poster illustrating their differences and how they can share one world. Grades 6-12 were asked to submit essays reflecting how their personal view of the world would change if they had an opportunity to live in another culture for a week. OCRC’s Office of Public Affairs coordinates the contest and the awards ceremony. A veteran civil rights staff of investigators, compliance, administrative and executives judges the contest over a two-week period. |
Culturally Competent Residents: |
The OPA works with grassroots and community organizations to bring diverse communities together through public forums and roundtable discussions of issues affecting their communities.
The “What Next?” Roundtable Discussion series was created as a result of the OCRC’s April 2004 conference “Achieving the American Dream: The Next 40 Years ’64 Civil Rights Act, ’68 Fair Housing Act, 2004 -What Next?” The “What Next?” roundtable discussions brought together community leaders and grassroots organizations throughout the state to discuss crosscutting issues that affect minorities and the poor such as homeownership, education, healthcare, economic development, and civic engagement. Each roundtable discussion focuses on the issues that are most pertinent to that particular community, with the mission of developing short- and long-term plans of action for their community. The OCRC has held roundtable discussions in Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, Oberlin and Dayton. A list of attendees is attached.
The Community Leadership Forums (CLF) are a part of the OCRC/HUD Partnership Initiative that engages and educates new immigrants and Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities on Ohio civil rights laws. The OCRC hosted bilingual community trainings specifically for the Somali and Hispanic/Latino communities of the state, on financial literacy, employment and fair housing laws. The OCRC will round out this initiative with trainings in landlord/tenant laws, occupancy standards, fair housing, and employment laws with partners, The Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs and The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
|
Culturally Competent Business: |
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission, with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Wright State University held the first annual Best Practices in Diversity Forum in May 2005. This event provides employers with an excellent way to engage in proactive prevention by learning creative and innovative equal employment strategies from successful companies in achieving diversity in the workplace. |
Students Learn about Ohio’s laws against discrimination: |
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission provides educational opportunities for students at its public meetings. The five appointed Commissioners hear arguments regarding discrimination complaints and vote on cases that have been submitted. OCRC invites classes and individuals to get a one-hour briefing on its cases and process, in preparation for their attendance at the OCRC public meeting held every three to four weeks. The public meetings are held in Columbus, Ohio, unless otherwise designated; begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. This meeting is free and open to the public; however large groups are encouraged to contact the OCRC to secure accommodations and seating. For more information please contact OCRC at 1-888-278-7101. Meeting dates are listed on page one. |
Diversity Bear/Valuing Diversity: |
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission created a curriculum guide for Ohio public schools. This three-volume set of curriculum units entitled, Valuing Diversity: Learning and Living Together (K-12), represents the ideas and efforts of successful practitioners in the field of multicultural education. Each thematic unit provides essential background information, model lesson plans, reproducible masters, cooperative learning activities and resources designed to meet a variety of learning abilities and interests. The Commission recognizes that providing diverse curricular materials is but one facet of a multi-dimensional effort to ensure that our children benefit from a culturally enriched educational experience. To order a copy of this reference guide, please go to our publications page to make a request.
Diversity Bear is The Ohio Civil Rights Commission’s mascot. It used as a tool to show differences and similarities in children. Diversity Bear regularly attends school programs, and fairs and festivals to spread the OCRC message of valuing diversity. To request the OCRC Diversity Bear at your next event, or to request autographed photos of Diversity Bear please contact us at 1-888-278-7101. |
| |
