The Diversity Council began in 1989 as Building Equality Together (BET) when the leadership of Rochester Public Schools recognized the need to combat racism and discrimination in our schools. School district staff worked with community leaders to form an independent nonprofit organization to meet this need.

Since that time, the Diversity Council's focus has grown to include not only students, but also the adults who are their guides to the future. The Diversity Council's mission has also expanded to address an inclusive understanding of diversity, including ethnicity, age, socioeconomic class, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical & mental disabilities, and a myriad of other differences.

Spark! workshops (formerly Prejudice Reduction Workshops), the Diversity Council's flagship program, began in 1996 with a handful of facilitators reaching students at three Rochester middle schools. By 2003, the workshops were reaching more than 15,000 students in public and private schools. In 2008, we received national recognition when the workshops were featured on the NBC Today Show.

We also offer professional diversity training for adults with the EquityLogic program. EquityLogic trainings provide a tactical approach to building cultural agility and diversifying organizational strategies. These trainings are customized for businesses and non-profits and are designed to impact factors such as employee retention, productivity in the workplace, inter-workgroup relationships, and customer/client satisfaction.

Other educational programs include parent training with Can Do Kids and an anti-bullying after school program for youth called Student Leaders Creating Change.

In addition to education programs, the Diversity Council provides community leadership and offers consulting services on diversity issues to local businesses and organizations.

http://www.diversitycouncil.org