View the Prejudice Reduction Workshops Brochure (PDF)

The Council’s best-known program is its Prejudice Reduction Workshops, first introduced to middle school students in March 2005. These researched and evaluated workshops are adopted from the successful Rochester (Minnesota) Diversity Council curriculum. The Rochester Diversity Council has been generous in sharing their expertise with Mankato.

Discussions and activities presented during these workshops are proven to reduce prejudice and discrimination. This success is attributed to the power of community members speaking to their children, “This is how we want to get along in our community. This is what our life experience has shown us is important.” The Rochester students engaged in discussion, learned facts about the cultures and religions of people in their own neighborhoods and remembered the activities and key concepts taught at each grade level. Cumulatively, the Prejudice Reduction Workshops have had a positive effect.

This curriculum teaches respect as its core value. The lessons are age-appropriate, research-driven, and continually evaluated and revised. The lessons progress from students in kindergarten exploring the concepts of “same” and “different” to 7th grade students defining what it means to have “world-mindedness.” In high school, the objectives deal more directly with stereotyping, prejudice and the wide range of diversity found in the community, including sexual and religious differences. Emphasis is placed on knowledge and not hurting others. Within five years the workshops will be expanded to all grades, K-12. View curriculum covered at each grade level (PDF 191KB)

One reason the Greater Mankato Diversity Council is focusing on education is the Mankato area's changing demographics. During the 1990’s, the non-white population more than doubled. Immigration from Southeast Asia, Africa and the Eastern bloc nations brought refugees to southern Minnesota, similar to the way most of our forefathers and grandparents arrived here. At present, students in our schools speak 31 different languages.

In addition to education in the schools, the Diversity Council will also foster community celebrations, facilitate area diversity initiatives, challenge stereotypes with accurate information and serve as a resource for individuals, businesses and organizations.