Promoting Respect Workshops

The Promoting Respect Workshops (PRW) encourages respect and understanding in K–12 classrooms. Through interactive workshops and activities, students learn to appreciate differences, practice empathy, and stand up against unfair treatment, helping to build a more welcoming and supportive school environment. Join us in creating positive change in our schools and community.

Partnership with Mankato Area Public Schools

The Greater Mankato Diversity Council is pleased to collaborate with the Mankato Area Public School District to offer the Promoting Respect Workshops for K-12 classrooms. Our partnership is instrumental in creating a strong sense of community among young learners.

Together with the district, we have developed an engaging curriculum tailored for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. Through interactive activities and discussions, students are encouraged to embrace cultural awareness, practice empathy, and become advocates for a respectful and welcoming school environment.

By working closely with educators and school administrators, we strive to create a supportive and empowering atmosphere where students can learn, grow, and celebrate what makes each person unique. Our shared commitment to fostering a welcoming community where every individual feels valued and respected is at the core of our partnership.

Logo of Mankato Area Public Schools featuring a stylized human figure with text around it.
ISD #77 Mission & Vision

K-12 Curriculum

  • Celebrating Me and My Family

    Students learn about diversity in a broad sense through the concept of uniqueness.

  • Caring for Our Community

    Students learn that showing you care about people in your community helps to build an inclusive community.

  • Just Ask: Learning About Differences with Respect

    Students learn about health differences and disability awareness. They also learn how respectful questions can help us understand and include others.

  • Seeing Me, Seeing You

    Students learn about the importance of representation in the media: of seeing yourself reflected in the media, and learning about those who are different from you.

  • Making Our World a Better Place

    Students learn about a variety of people who have had a positive impact in history; these people typically aren’t highlighted or are often overlooked in traditional curricula. Students learn that people who change history have certain characteristics in common, but that they are all very different/diverse, and that everyone has the potential to make a difference.

  • Everyone Belongs: Building Inclusive Communities

    Students learn about the importance of inclusion, the harm of exclusion/bullying, and the importance of being an upstander when they see someone being excluded/bullied.

  • Stronger Together: We Are Mankato

    Students learn about how people have arrived in our community throughout the area’s history, with a focus on defining immigration, refugee, and Native.

  • Groups, Gossip, and Growth

    Students learn about inclusion/exclusion, bullying/cyberbullying, and how those things can lead to discrimination.

  • What If It Were You?: Recognizing Discrimination

    Students learn what discrimination is, how to recognize it, and a brief history of discrimination in Minnesota.

  • Finding Your People

    Students explore friend groups and cliques, examine how social groups can sometimes contribute to exclusion and unfair social divisions, and reflect on how to build belonging for themselves and others.

  • Walking in Their Shoes

    Students learn the difference between empathy and sympathy, the importance of empathy in general and across identities and experiences specifically, and what empathy looks like.

  • Exploring Immigration: Misconceptions, Facts, and Local Info

    Students learn basic definitions related to immigration, debunk three prevalent misconceptions about immigration, look at immigration data for our area, and learn about the immigration process.

  • Standing Up Against Discrimination

    Students learn what prejudice, bias, and discrimination are and how they differ. They will practice recognizing discrimination in real-world scenarios, and discuss constructive ways to stand up to discrimination.

We are committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment through our curriculum. We welcome inquiries from community members and are happy to provide details of our curriculum upon request to ensure transparency and open dialogue.

Is your school committed to building a respectful and welcoming environment? Join the Greater Mankato Diversity Council’s K–12 Promoting Respect Workshops! Our trained facilitators lead students through engaging activities that explore respect, empathy, and belonging.

Together, let’s create a school environment where every child feels valued, respected, and included.

Contact GMDC’s Education Director for more information on how your school can get involved!

Contact

Interested in becoming a PRW Facilitator?

This volunteer position offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to a stronger, more respectful, and equitable community. As a volunteer, you’ll play a part in shaping positive experiences for students and helping to foster understanding, empathy, and connection.

If you're passionate about respect, education, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen and valued we encourage you to fill out an interest form and join us in this important work.

Sign Up Here!

 FAQs

  • Volunteers who are passionate fostering respect and creating positive learning environments in our schools are welcome to apply. Prior experience in education or working with students is beneficial, but not required. Training and support will be provided to all volunteers.

  • 1. Attend 45-minute orientation/get-to-know-you meeting with GMDC’s Education Director

    2. Attend PRW classroom facilitation trainings (About 1 hour each); you cannot go into a classroom without attending the training

    3. Attend further PRW trainings on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics if requested or if made mandatory

    4. Complete a background check

    5. Respond to communication from the Education Director and your fellow facilitators in a timely manner

    6. Co-facilitate PRW sessions as often as your schedule reasonably allows (Each session is less than an hour)

    7. Touch base with your co-facilitator at least once prior to your classroom session

    8. Practice the lesson on your own before going into the classroom

    You should become familiar with the lesson content and practice how you plan to deliver it before facilitating a session.

    9. Facilitators working with grades 6–12 are also expected to follow the “6th–12th Grade PRW Facilitator Expectations: Consistency Across Classrooms” handout, which provides additional guidance regarding curriculum fidelity, facilitator autonomy, and appropriate classroom discussion. 

    10. Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students and school staff at all times

    11. Facilitators working with grades 7–12 are also expected to follow the “7th-12th Grade PRW Facilitator Expectations: Classroom Management & Boundaries” handout, which provides additional guidance regarding classroom management and facilitator boundaries when it comes to discipline.

    12. Maintain confidentiality regarding information shared by students or learned through participation in PRW. Facilitators should not share personal information, or other identifying information about students with people outside of those who need the information to support the student or PRW program. 

    If a student shares information that raises a concern about their safety or the safety of someone else, facilitators should notify the classroom teacher and GMDC’s Education Director. 

    13. Abide by the Community Member Confidentiality Agreement from ISD77.

    14. Complete a facilitator feedback survey after each PRW session you co-facilitate by the end of the week

    15. Complete a facilitator feedback survey at the end of the school year regarding the program as a whole

    16. You are expected to continually develop your knowledge of DEI topics and to seek additional resources when you recognize gaps in your knowledge, understanding, or ability to support the communities GMDC serves. 

    17. If you have questions about PRW content, or would like to practice further before presenting a session, communicate this with the Education Director

    18. Because GMDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, GMDC cannot support or oppose political candidates or participate in political campaign activity. Facilitators should not endorse, oppose, or express support for political candidates while representing GMDC. 

    19. Facilitators should not present their personal political opinions or positions as part of PRW programming. Facilitators should follow the approved PRW curriculum and use the lesson materials to guide discussion. If a student specifically asks for your opinion, redirect the conversation with facts, values (like fairness and respect), or questions that guide students to think critically.

  • The program aims to empower students to celebrate everyone, practice empathy, and combat discrimination. Through interactive workshops and activities, students learn about cultural awareness, anti-bullying strategies, and building welcoming communities.

  • The Promoting Respect Workshops program is designed to align with the Minnesota state education standards to ensure that students are meeting curriculum objectives while engaging in activities that promote respect and community building.

  • Yes, parents and community members can support the program by volunteering as workshop facilitators, providing resources or donations, and spreading awareness about the importance of respect and a welcoming community.

  • Volunteers are provided with training and resources to effectively facilitate the workshops prior to each lesson in the schools. While prior experience working with students is beneficial, the key qualifications for volunteers are a passion for promoting diversity, inclusion, and respect.
    Facilitators are expected to attend a 45-minute orientation/get-to-know-you meeting with GMDC’s Education Director, attend PRW classroom facilitation trainings (about 1 hour each), and potentially attend further PRW trainings as required. Volunteers will also need to complete a background check. Facilitators must maintain timely and clear communication with both the Education Director and their co-facilitators.

  • Educators or schools outside of the Mankato Area Public Schools District interested in similar programs or initiatives can reach out to the Greater Mankato Diversity Council’s Education Director at samantha@mankatodiversity.org.

  • The impact and effectiveness of the workshops are measured through evaluation surveys distributed to all participating teachers, facilitators, and students in grades 6-12. Feedback from these surveys help asses the program's impact on students’ learning, school culture, and attitudes towards diversity and inclusion. Additionally, observations and feedback from educators, students, and administrators provide valuable insights into the overall effectiveness of the workshops. These evaluation mechanisms help us continuously improve and tailor the program to meet the needs of students and schools within the Mankato Area Public Schools District.

  • Click here to fill out a PRW Facilitator Interest Form: https://forms.gle/9e5paRq42UECj4ZC8

  • "[PRW] is such a great community connection for our school and students."

  • "[PRW] has absolutely made a positive impact!"

  • "The topic shared was exactly what [the students] needed."

  • "I love the changes that were made from last year's content! This was very relevant, made an impact, and promoted necessary conversations."

  • "This was by far the BEST experience I've ever had with this curriculum/presentation!"

  • "My students loved it."

  • "One of the best PRW experiences I've had over several."

  • "The teacher told [us] that her class had focused and was the most attentive she'd ever seen them."