Greater Mankato Diversity Council

The Greater Mankato Diversity Council (GMDC) exists to enhance the Mankato area’s commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming community through diversity education. Our mission is to provide diversity education as a catalyst for social and economic success. GMDC strives to give people an understanding of diversity and build their cultural competence through Promoting Respect Workshops, multi-cultural activities, diversity events and more.

GMDC's mission is providing diversity education as a catalyst for social and economic success. Three supporting statements focus our mission work within our community. Those three supporting statements are: Global - Preparing our communities for increased global presence and awareness.; Inclusive - Creating an open and safe learning environment in our schools for all students.; Vibrant - Partnering with businesses and industry to create workforce that ensures a healthy economy.

GMDC is a non-profit organization that actively affirms and promotes the full participation of all. GMDC is not an advocate for any particular group or individual. It serves as a resource to all and emphasizes respecting differences.

"One Thousand Peace Cranes"

:Promoting Peace and Unity

In the Japanese culture, the crane is a symbol of longevity which can only be achieved through peace. Therefore it has become a tradition in Japan to fold one thousand origami cranes and hang them together (as one sculptural unit/mobile called 千羽鶴 Senbazuruin Japanese) to symbolize peace, unity, health and happiness. People from all over the world have folded millions of paper cranes which are currently displayed in the Hiroshima Peace Park at the location where the first atomic bomb was dropped. This park is dedicated to promoting everlasting peace.

We want to promote respect, tolerance and everlasting peace by inviting everyone in the Mankato area to fold paper cranes in order to create many "one thousand peace cranes sculptures" (Senbazuru) to spread throughout our community thus declaring the Greater Mankato area is united for peace.

This project was featured in the Mankato Free Press.

To learn more, please contact Kuma Takamura at 507.385.6651 or email him at ktakamura@mankatodiversity.org.

WRITE on RACE Logo

WRITE on RACE Quarter Theme:

"RIGHT" on RACE Work Sessions

Monday, June 4

Monday, June 18

Monday, June 25

All Work Session will be held at Shared Spaces, 127 S. 2nd Street in downtown Mankato.

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The first annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 16, commemorates the historical beginnings of African-American independence in the U.S.   

Bring a lawn chair to enjoy our guest speakers, live music, blues, R&B, and jazz. Music with a side of soul food and also includes kids’ activities for free!

Festivities start at 5:30pm at Shared Spaces and we will march together to the Intergovernmental Center.

Headlining Hip-Hop Coalition will perform at 6pm and 7pm.

WHAT: Historic festival held annually on the nineteenth of June by African Americans to commemorate emancipation from slavery in Texas on that day in 1865.

WHEN: June 16, 2018

TIME: 5:30pm to 8pm

WHERE: The marching band starts at Shared Spaces to the Intergovernmental Center

Admission is free! Please come and help us celebrate.

Learn more information at our Facebook page

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JUNETEENTH HISTORY

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery.

Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union Soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, TX with news that the war had ended and that all slaves were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation which had little impact on Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops used to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. 