Thank You!

Please join us in thanking these companies for their recent contributions to World of Difference:

Principal Financial Group Foundation

Rockwell Collins

John Deere Credit

Contents

·       In the Classroom

o    Gift Ideas

o    Grant Consulting Available for Schools

o    Attention Music Teachers

o    Title 1 Schools Helped by Wells Fargo

o    November Holidays Around the World

·         Inside World of Difference

o    Name Change -- Call for Ideas

o    New Workshop Offered

·         Into the Community

o    Pioneer Diversity Week

o    History Through the Arts

In the Classroom

Gift Ideas

Tell your student's Parents about this Holiday Gift idea: World of Difference Culture in the Classroom. Benefits: 

·         Share this gift with the whole class  

·         Provide what text books and research projects cannot: First-hand experience to explore the sights, sounds, tastes and textures of another culture.

Contact explore@worldofdifference.us for ideas. 

Grant Consulting Available for Schools 

Did you know that grants are available for World of Difference Programs? Dawn Martinez Oropeza of the Iowa Arts Council has generously offered to meet with schools that are working with World of Difference and review grant narratives two weeks before the deadline to provide feedback. For more information on getting help with a grant please contact Dawn directly at: Dawn.Oropeza@iowa.gov

Attention Music Teachers!

Take students on an In-School Field Trip... 

• Tour Mexico’s diverse regions through varied musical rhythms.
• Dance through Indian history and mythology. 
• Feel Senegal’s pulse during a West African celebration. 
• Venture into Kenya wrapped in a kanga and playing a kayamba.  

Title 1 Schools Helped by Wells Fargo

Knowledge of the world is not a luxury, but a necessity for every student. Every student deserves access to high-quality cultural experiences. That's why Wells Fargo & Co. is sponsoring a special offer to Title 1 schools. Any teacher at a Title 1 school can select a Cultural Ambassador representing one of more than 30 cultures to immerse students in cultural experiences in which to explore the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and hands-on interactions -- discovering new things about themselves, their classmates and the world around them.

November Holidays

A wonderful way to introduce another culture to your classroom is to explore a holiday celebrated in another part of the world.  

For a list of November Holidays, information on those holidays, website links and cultural ambassador connections please visit our website at:

World of Difference Holiday Page

In World of Difference

Name Change - Call for Ideas!

World of Difference is searching for a new name -- and you can help. Send us your ideas.  Background: The Anti-Defamation League has a Trademark on the name, World of Difference. To avoid confusion, we're making the change. If you have any suggestions please send them to us at: sherry@worldofdifference.us

New Workshop Offered

Savitha Rao from India presented her first workshop as a Cultural Ambassador during the November meeting of Fast-Track Diplomats. In this workshop, Savitha celebrates the Hindu new year with sweet candies, fancy clothes, traditional art and family blessings. Students help prepare for this Festival of Lights by creating Rangoli (colored sand art), as they discover differences and similarities with other cultures.

 In the Community

Pioneer Diversity Week

World of Difference delivered workshops at Pioneer Hi-Bred International last month and received this review from Jill Rutz, the company's Talent Acquisition & Diversity Consultant: "We really really appreciate the collaboration with World of Difference this week. We were thrilled to welcome your Cultural Ambassadors to present during our business's celebration of Diversity week. . . .Today we had a row of people standing in the back of the room the entire time as we ran out of seats! Both (presenters) did a phenomenal job and we are so excited to be able to learn from them about their cultures."

History Through the Arts

World of Difference is supporting History Through the Arts at the Iowa State Historical Museum, Feb. 23-25, 2010.  Come see Cultural Ambassadors representing a variety of Asian cultures' Lunar New Year Celebrations.