Billboard-size artwork will again focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Former Skyline High School teacher and AAPS Social Students Department Chair Kay Wade was enjoying her retirement when she met Nancy Margolis, the executive director of Embracing Our Differences Michigan (EOD).
When Wade learned about the mission of EODMichigan—which is to use the transformative power of art combined with an educational curriculum to celebrate diversity—she was intrigued. And soon she found herself with a part-time position.
“I had seen the banners at Gallup Park, and I was very interested in the concept of using art to make people more aware and hopefully embrace all in our diverse world,” recalls Wade, now the EOD’s director of education.
The EOD centerpiece is a juried, outdoor exhibit featuring 60 billboard-size images created by local, national, and international artists, writers, and students reflecting their interpretations of the theme “enriching our lives through diversity.”
Last year’s banners were given to local schools and businesses, and new ones will be installed in the coming weeks at both Gallup Park and Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.
Schools/individuals interested in a free banner can go to the EODMichigan website, click on the Exhibit tab, and go to “Request Free Banners 2022” or “Request Free Banners 2023” to access the Google Form.
Beginning this week, local teachers will receive invitations to treat their students to a free field trip to Gallup Park or Riverside Park in Ypsilanti beginning May 6 to see the billboard-sized artwork created by artists on the subjects of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A docent will lead the students on an hour-long, engaging tour.
To arrange for free bus transportation, teachers are invited to stop at their principal’s office to make
their requests. Embracing Our Differences will receive the bill from the transportation company. For more information, contact Project Director Christiane Gant at chris@eodmichigan.org or call 248 558-0883. Sign-up link: Gallup Park
Nancy Margolis, Executive Director, EODMichigan
What inspired you to join Embracing Our Differences Michigan?
My mission and work over the years have been to find ways to build bridges among diverse people. When I saw the Embracing Our Differences (EOD) exhibit in Florida I just knew that this was a program that we needed in Washtenaw County. It is needed everywhere. Florida has run the program for 20 years. They gave us permission to emulate their program. We are the only community to do so. I formed a private non-profit, talked with scores of local leaders and organizations, and launched EODMichigan with amazing support.
What have been some of the biggest challenges in running a nonprofit focused on diversity and inclusion? How have you overcome those challenges?
As in any non-profit, finding financial resources has been and will continue to be the biggest challenge. But with generous support from Washtenaw County, the University of Michigan, and Michigan Medicine, we were able to begin.
My second biggest challenge was to build a diverse and inclusive board and committees. Happily, we can say that we do set a good example of what organizations should look like.
We have not had any pushback in our mission. However, having said that I do think that our strong support for diversity, especially LGBTQ rights, may have restricted funding from some groups. Hopefully, we will change their mind.
What are some of the core initiatives Embracing Our Differences Michigan offers to promote diversity and understanding?
The showcase of our program is the gorgeous, huge (16-by-12-foot) banners that we install in Gallup Park in Ann Arbor and Riverside Park in Ypsilanti. Every banner has an original quote or thought about diversity. We provide free field trips for schools which spark discussions among students about differences. Students are encouraged to make artwork and write thoughts about diversity. We offer workshops for teachers and community organizations paired with tours of the parks.
A team of teachers from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti just completed curriculum on diversity for all grades, which is available on our website. The lesson plans are easy to pop into other class lessons.
We are now state-certified to provide Professional Development Credit for our workshops.
An Ann Arbor teacher came to us last year with an idea to bring Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti students together for a project. The result is a fabulous and colorful mural near the transit center in Ypsilanti showing icons of both cities. The students worked with nationally known muralist Gary Horton. And we are putting the mural on an AATA bus this spring.
We are proud of the Ypsilanti Arts Extravaganza that we sponsored for YCS. More than 350 students performed at WCC for a program promoting diversity.
How has your past work as Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Community Foundation influenced your work with EOD?
Both were instructive in learning how to develop resources and systems to run a non-profit, and collaborating with public agencies. More relevant to my current work was being deputy director of the County’s anti-poverty agency where I had the opportunity to learn from wide and diverse populations.
How does Embracing Our DifferencesMichigan use art to further its mission? What role does art play in fostering open and thoughtful conversations?
Art can be transformative. And the art we offer – gigantic and powerful – causes a person to think about issues they might not have thought of before. One banner we had showed a youth in a wheelchair playing basketball. The caption read “I am not an inanimate object. Look at me and not my wheelchair.” I now only look at the person. One artist drew a self-portrait and wrote: “I am different. But autism gave me my superpower.” Students discussed that banner a lot.
What does Embracing Our Differences MIchigan see as the biggest barriers to inclusion and diversity today, especially in Michigan? How are you working to break down those barriers?
The biggest barrier is the fact that we do not have enough opportunities to live, mix, mingle, work and play with a wide diverse group of people – from kindergarten to old age. We live in silos with people who are just like us. Therefore, we do not know how to talk with people who are different, how to understand where people are coming from, or how to understand their backgrounds and life experiences. We do not know how to have a conversation with people who have opposite opinions and ideas. To work on this problem, we are considering holding community conversations to look at this issue. We are exploring models for this effort. Tune in later.
What does your work with EOD involve?
As the founder and executive director, (pro bono), I have fun overseeing all aspects of EODMichigan. I raise the funds. I hired three part-time staff – Lynne Settles, the art director who does our social media and works with artists who are judges to select the art for the parks; Kay Wade, the education director who writes curricula and oversees the teacher workshops; and Chris Gant, the project director who coordinates docents and field trips. I hopefully inspire our Action Committee and our Board of Directors to foster the programs.
What is it you most want the public to know about EOD?
In these times of such conflict and polarization, our mission is critical. Differences make us stronger; corporations perform better with diverse teams. Study after study has proven this. The more the public is aware and works on inclusion, the better our society will be.
How can people get involved?
Teachers can serve on our education committee; students can form youth leadership groups; persons can be trained to be docents and lead tours. Continued financial support as sponsors is essential.
Read our Facebook page and website to keep up to date. Find homes for our banners once the summer is over. Banners are given free to schools and organizations. But you need a big wall indoors or outside. Invite us to speak to your group. Visit the parks and bring your family and friends.
Kay Wade, Director of Education
Kay Wade retired from Ann Arbor Public Schools on Sept. 1, 2019, after serving as a respected educator and teacher of the African American Humanities class, as well as social students district chair. She was among the leaders who helped plan the development of Skyline High School. She joined the staff of EOD in May of 2023.
Why did you decide to join the EOD staff?
In my “past” life, I was passionate about diversity and inclusion. I was enjoying my retirement when I met Nancy Margolis, who told me about the mission of EOD. I had seen the banners at Gallup, and I was very interested. Using art to make people more aware and hopefully “embrace” all in our diverse world. So EOD seemed like a natural fit.
What does this new job entail?
Some of the duties include overseeing the creation of the EOD curriculum; adapting curriculum to Michigan Standards; offering professional development workshops; creating ways to get educators to include EOD in their K-12 classes; presenting the program to various community groups; and preparing the curriculum for educators to be placed on the website.
What have you enjoyed most about the job so far?
Meeting new people. Working with the teachers, meeting new teachers, learning more about art, and creating curriculum.
You have an extensive background in education. How about art?
My background in art is very limited. I taught art to the African American Humanities class, and it was studying and teaching myself before I could teach the lesson!
What initially sparked your interest in diversity education, and why did you feel it was essential to pursue this as a career?
What sparked my interest? It could have been a childhood experience, a college experience, or a job experience. However, I knew it was important to educate people and help them understand and appreciate the diversity of our experiences and our world!
Does EOD collaborate with AAPS schools and teachers?
Yes. We have banners up at several elementary schools. Nancy and I presented to the K12 art teachers in the fall. Several Ann Arbor Teachers presented the fall workshops.
Are there ways the public can get involved?
We accept art submissions and quotes from adults as well as children. We are looking for financial sponsors. Nancy can add more to this question.
What do you want people to know most about EODMichigan?
In the world we are living in today, with diversity, equity, and inclusion being under attack, EOD’s focus on art may help to encourage people to view diversity from different perspectives.
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