K-12 Programs

The K-12 programs are designed to help students develop cultural understanding, empathy, and respect. Through interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and meaningful discussions, these programs guide young people to embrace diversity, challenge stereotypes, and grow into compassionate leaders in their schools and communities. Each program fosters an inclusive environment that empowers students to contribute to a more connected and equitable world.

Promoting Respect Workshops

Promoting Respect Workshops create school environments where respect and inclusion thrive. These sessions, aligned with Minnesota state education standards, engage students in discussions and creative activities that promote respect, acceptance, and a sense of belonging. Tailored to different grade levels, the workshops are led by experienced facilitators and provide resources to strengthen the connection between school and home, encouraging students to apply what they learn in all areas of their lives.

Learn More

REAL Feedback from REAL Students

"I thought it was one of the most important things I’ve learned."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Dakota Meadows MS
"I feel that I can open my eyes more now to discrimination and make sure I can stand up for people when it happens!"

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato West HS
"It made me look from a different perspective."

Anonymous Sixth Grader
"It's very helpful to teach high schoolers this because everyone here witnesses discrimination almost daily."

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato West HS
"I felt like I’m not the only one who is from a different country."

Anonymous Sixth Grader
"I felt happy to be learning and talking about discrimination because it's not always talked about in this society."

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I saw myself in this."

Anonymous Ninth Grader
Mankato East HS
“I felt like I belong. It’s the first time I’ve felt that. Thank you."

Anonymous Sixth Grader
"I felt like today’s lesson was needed because I’ve seen and witnessed a lot of things that were done/said today."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Prairie Winds MS
"I thought this was a very nice blend between personal anecdotes, legal history, and real world situations and scenarios."

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato West HS
"My mind expanded."

Anonymous Sixth Grader
"I thought this lesson was good because it will help people realize that not everyone has to fit in and to just express yourself."

Anonymous Ninth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I am so happy when listening to you guys."

Anonymous Tenth Grader
Mankato West HS
"It was very eye-opening and an AMAZING reminder to go against discrimination."

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I'm more open to expanding and talking to others who might be different than me."

Anonymous Ninth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I felt like I wasn’t alone because I’m not the only one bullied, a lot of people are."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Dakota Meadows MS
"I felt like this lesson was one of the best lessons I have ever had and I’m going to be a better person."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Prairie Winds MS
"I felt inspired to stand up to bullies."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Prairie Winds MS
"I felt better. A weight lifted off me."

Anonymous Ninth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I felt really educated on how I should look at someone instead of judging right away."

Anonymous Tenth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I feel it's very important and more people my age needed to hear this. Thank you guys."

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I feel that it showed me that not everything is good but we will be able to make things right."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Dakota Meadows MS
"I felt that I learned a lot from this and I will care and be more kind to people because you don’t know what people are going through."

Anonymous Tenth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I felt represented."

Anonymous Tenth Grader
Mankato West HS
"I felt frustrated that these people were hurt. I did not even know that half of these events happened in Mankato."

Anonymous Eighth Grader
Prairie Winds MS
"It taught me to know the difference between right and wrong."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Dakota Meadows MS
"Understanding because I see people excluding each other every day."

Anonymous Ninth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I felt like there is too much bullying around., I should stand up for people when they are getting bullied."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Prairie Winds MS
"I think they should do this more. I see discrimination happening all the time and it comes so natural, which it shouldn't."

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I felt like you should not assume things about people, and you should put yourself in other people’s shoes."

Anonymous Sixth Grader
"Accepting is important."

Anonymous Sixth Grader
"It was inspiring and provoked thought. Thanks you!"

Anonymous Tenth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I learned a lot about discrimination and the effects it has on society and makes me want to do even better."

Anonymous Eighth Grader
Dakota Meadows MS
"I felt shocked of what I learned today and how we’re all different."

Anonymous Sixth Grader
"Very important, learned more today than I ever would socially. Thank you so much!! Muchas gracias!"

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato West HS
"I think the lesson helped people understand that there is still work to be done in our community."

Anonymous Eighth Grader
Prairie Winds MS
"I thought there was a theme which is 'Don’t judge a book by its cover'."

Anonymous Sixth Grader
"I will take this information and use it."

Anonymous Tenth Grader
Mankato West HS
"I thought it was a strong message as someone who has been bullied/harassed."

Anonymous Seventh Grader
Prairie Winds MS
"I think that today's presentation was needed because a lot of us have little to no info on this topic so it's hard to recognize them, which means it's hard to stand up to it."

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Mankato East HS
"I liked having someone address this."

Anonymous Eighth Grader
Dakota Meadows MS
"I've never had a lesson like this in school and it was really encouraging to see other people who care and are working hard."

Anonymous Eighth Grader
Dakota Meadows MS
"It was well-explained and entertaining."

Anonymous Tenth Grader
Mankato West HS
"I thought today's lesson was good and educational. I also think this lesson could be taught in more schools, espeically PWIs (predominately white institutions)."

Anonymous Twelfth Grader
Central HS
"It makes me sad that this happens, but I'm glad we are being educated about it."

Anonymous Eighth Grader
Prairie Winds MS

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

— Nelson Mandela

K-12 Programs

Promoting Respect Workshops

"I thought it was one of the most important things I’ve learned."

"I feel that I can open my eyes more now to discrimination and make sure I can stand up for people when it happens!"

"It made me look from a different perspective."

"It's very helpful to teach high schoolers this because everyone here witnesses discrimination almost daily."

"I felt like I’m not the only one who is from a different country."

"I felt happy to be learning and talking about discrimination because it's not always talked about in this society."

"I saw myself in this."

“I felt like I belong. It’s the first time I’ve felt that. Thank you."

"I felt like today’s lesson was needed because I’ve seen and witnessed a lot of things that were done/said today."

"I thought this was a very nice blend between personal anecdotes, legal history, and real world situations and scenarios."

"My mind expanded."

"I thought this lesson was good because it will help people realize that not everyone has to fit in and to just express yourself."

"I am so happy when listening to you guys."

"It was very eye-opening and an AMAZING reminder to go against discrimination."

"I'm more open to expanding and talking to others who might be different than me."

"I felt like I wasn’t alone because I’m not the only one bullied, a lot of people are."

"I felt like this lesson was one of the best lessons I have ever had and I’m going to be a better person."

"I felt inspired to stand up to bullies."

"I felt better. A weight lifted off me."

"I felt really educated on how I should look at someone instead of judging right away."

"I feel it's very important and more people my age needed to hear this. Thank you guys."

"I feel that it showed me that not everything is good but we will be able to make things right."

"I felt that I learned a lot from this and I will care and be more kind to people because you don’t know what people are going through."

"I felt represented."

"I felt frustrated that these people were hurt. I did not even know that half of these events happened in Mankato."

"It taught me to know the difference between right and wrong."

"Understanding because I see people excluding each other every day."

"I felt like there is too much bullying around., I should stand up for people when they are getting bullied."

"I think they should do this more. I see discrimination happening all the time and it comes so natural, which it shouldn't."

"I felt like you should not assume things about people, and you should put yourself in other people’s shoes."

"Accepting is important."

"It was inspiring and provoked thought. Thanks you!"

"I learned a lot about discrimination and the effects it has on society and makes me want to do even better."

"I felt shocked of what I learned today and how we’re all different."

"Very important, learned more today than I ever would socially. Thank you so much!! Muchas gracias!"

"I think the lesson helped people understand that there is still work to be done in our community."

"I thought there was a theme which is 'Don’t judge a book by its cover'."

"I will take this information and use it."

"I thought it was a strong message as someone who has been bullied/harassed."

"I think that today's presentation was needed because a lot of us have little to no info on this topic so it's hard to recognize them, which means it's hard to stand up to it."

"I liked having someone address this."

"I've never had a lesson like this in school and it was really encouraging to see other people who care and are working hard."

"It was well-explained and entertaining."

"I thought today's lesson was good and educational. I also think this lesson could be taught in more schools, espeically PWIs (predominately white institutions)."

"It makes me sad that this happens, but I'm glad we are being educated about it."

Greater Mankato Diversity Council