Greater Mankato Diversity Council  
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Who We Are > Prejudice Reduction Workshop Facilitators:

The Greater Mankato Diversity Council’s facilitators play important roles in the organization’s Prejudice Reduction Workshops. They enhance prejudice reduction education by bringing their knowledge to the classroom to work with students on diversity education by celebrating diversity, teaching them respect for diversity and giving them a better understanding of diversity. If you are interested in serving as a Prejudice Reduction Workshop Facilitator apply now (pdf)

These community members present Prejudice Reduction Workshop curriculum
to K-12 students to help them learn mutual respect. The workshops combine
engaging discussion with hands-on activities.
   

Ismail Ahmed – Ismail considers himself “part of a painting called diversity.”  He believes we can improve our community by promoting mutual respect and diversity acceptance. Ismail speaks English, Urdu, and Hindi. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota. He is the Director of Oncology at Immanuel St. Joseph's–Mayo Health System. He and his wife, Hina, were married in India in 2003. 

   
Lul Ahmed – As a speaker of Somali, English and Arabic, Lul Ahmed brings a multi-cultural perspective to her service with the Diversity Council. A Mankato resident for the past six years, Lul is a Somalian native and knows first hand the need to proactively address diversity issues. She has been active in the community since her arrival by serving on the Region 9 Board on Aging and belonging to the Minnesota New African Unity and Minnesota State University’s Ethnic Studies Student Organization. Lul works with Blue Earth County Employment Services.
   
  Ojoye Akane – Citizen
   
Abdulkadir Alasow – Building community awareness and support for diversity should come naturally to Abdul – he speaks Somali, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Romanian and English. He is co-founder of the Blue Earth-Nicollet County Somali Community, member of Minnesota New African Unity and of Minnesota State University’s Ethnic Studies Student Organization. He is interested in developing better links in the community and building a healthy community for youth. Abdul is an adjunct faculty member in Minnesota State University’s Ethnic Studies Department.
 

Veronica AlbaVeronica says she is appreciative of having been raised in Mexico, Texas and Minnesota because it has helped mold her into the bicultural, Latina woman she has become. Veronica, who speaks fluent English and Spanish, earned a BSW with training in youth leadership development from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She serves on the Gustavus Adolphus College NYSP Board, Gustavus Adolphus College Diversity Committee, LULAC, Mankato Diversity Kiwanis and is the director of the Gustavus Adolphus College Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Institute (ChYLI). She says she hopes the Greater Mankato Diversity Council will continue its work and expand into other communities where this education is needed.

 
Claire Larson Bock – Claire Larson Bock brings 32 years of full-time teaching experience to her work on the Diversity Council. She taught English and speech in Kansas and Minnesota and, for two years, taught in Saipan, an island in the Pacific Ocean. Being accepted by Caucasian teenagers was challenging and comforting to Claire and her growth and sense of understanding continues to grow each year. Claire hopes to advocate for “throw-away kids” and seniors during her time with the Diversity Council. She is involved in the Friendship Family Program for international students at Minnesota State University and serves as a substitute English as a Second Language teacher at Mankato Area Public School’s Lincoln Community Center in Mankato.
 

Chris Boyce – Chris developed his view of the world with the help of his parents, family and friends. He hopes that all people will experience and learn to show respect and love for everyone. He believes this can be accomplished by continual change and understanding of others. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and law enforcement and a master’s degree in public administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He currently works for the City of Mankato.  

 
Tony Broskoff – growing up in a bi-cultural household instilled in Tony a willingness to promote diversity and keep an open mind to diverse cultural traditions. Tony’s hope for his daughter is “that she grows up in a diverse world respecting and appreciating all cultures enriching her life. Tony currently teaches in Mankato Area Public Schools and has served as a Big Brother. He thinks the Diversity Council is a great first step to creating an inclusive community. He wants to get more information out about the work it does.
 

Jeanne Burkhart – Jeanne is passionate about working with people. She has a degree in women’s studies and a doctorate in psychology. She has also attended numerous conferences that focus on diversity.  These skills provide her with a foundation to teach multicultural counseling, run Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) programs and work with individuals who are racially diverse and live at different poverty levels. Jeanne works at Adult, Child and Family Services. She lives with her partner and their children in the Mankato area.

   
  Yvonne Cariveau – VoyageurWeb
 
Diana Carrigan – “Mankato’s pro-active approach to diversity is one of the things our community is doing right,” says Diana. She hopes her work with the Diversity Council helps Mankato become a leader in diversity issues. Her life experiences in Mankato, Washington D.C., Mexico and Guatemala have contributed to her interest in different cultures. She works as a Bereavement Coordinator for Hospice at Immanuel St. Joseph’s–Mayo Health System. Diana has degrees in Spanish and Community Counseling. She lives in North Mankato and has served as a Hospice volunteer, a volunteer with the Exchange Club and participated in Leadership Mankato.
 

Lisa Coons – Lisa seeks to make Mankato a great place to live regardless of a person’s background. She encourages all to reduce fears of differences and disagreements in order to create a society that celebrates each individual for his or her unique gifts. Lisa, who has a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communications and a master’s degree in women’s studies, teaches social justice issues as a faculty member at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She volunteers at the MRCI Thrift Store and serves on the Citizens Voices Committee. She and her partner were the 2005 dedicatees for the South Central Pride Festival in Mankato. She is a proud parent of a young daughter.

 
  David Cunningham – SMILES
   
  Maurella Cunningham – Minnesota State University, Mankato
 

Marsha Danielson – Working to make Greater Mankato a more inclusive community comes naturally to Marsha because one of her passions is meeting new people and making personal connections with them. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Mankato Area United Way and the Greater Mankato Convention and Visitors Bureau. She is also a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. Marsha has been trained in diversity issues and participated in the Blandin Community Leadership program. She has degrees in business administration and educational leadership. Marsha works as the Dean for Economic Development at South Central College and enjoys time with her husband Bruce and three sons.

   
  Maricela DeMirjyn – Minnesota State University, Mankato
   
  Tessa Donato – Spanish Interpreter
   
  Donna Drganc – Harry Meyering Center
   

Gail Finley – In her work through Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties Guardian ad Litem Program, Gail has seen the many types of disenfranchisement and power issues experienced by the families she works with. She has learned how values and cultures can affect a situations outcomes and impact all those involved. She has studied several fields at schools in several Minnesota communities including Guardian ad Litem training, mediation certification and Licensed Practical Nurse coursework. She says her focus is increasing poverty awareness and inclusiveness through ongoing education for all ages. Gail has a husband and three grown children. 

 
Paulette Ford – Like Martin Luther King Jr., Paulette hopes each human being will ultimately be judged by his or her character not by the color of skin, shape of eyes, shape of body or one’s sexual orientation. Of European and Polynesian descent, Paulette has experienced hurtful racial discrimination and prejudice in the past and has come to understand the complexities and challenges of living in a diverse society. From her father, her husband and her son, Paulette has drawn valuable life lessons in unconditional love and acquired the confidence to be herself. She brings these vital skills to her work with the Diversity Council. She works at Mankato Area Public Schools’ Central High School as a Work Experience Teacher.
 
Tracy Ford – The U.S. Navy recognized and supported cultural, racial and religious diversity with vigor. At Tracy's rank and in the job she performed she found it her "duty to support diversity and my privilege as well. I am a strong advocate for equality and harmony." As a daughter of a gay father and of a single handicapped mother, Tracy hopes to be an integral part of diversity awareness and prejudice reduction in our community. She sings in the Minnesota Valley Sweet Adeline's.
   
  Cecil Gasis – YWCA
   
  Jane Greathouse – South Central College
   
  Maria Guerrero – Hispanic Community & Interpreter
   

Jeff  Halbur – Jeff worked with a variety of people at the Open Door Health Center in Mankato. He wants to learn more about diverse cultures and hopes that everyone can learn to live together peacefully and respectfully. He believes that embracing the Prejudice Reduction Workshop program has been a significant step toward making members of diverse populations feel welcome in Mankato.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He is self-employed as a consultant and grant writer. He serves as a Cub Scout Den Leader and formerly was Education Commissioner for his church. Jeff places great importance on spending time with his wife and their two sons. 

 

Julie Homan Julie has earned a Bachelor of Science Teaching Licensure (B.S.T.)  in elementary education and teaches at Loyola Catholic School-Notre Dame Elementary. In her work as a teacher, she says she has seen how young children note differences in each other at an early age. Through the Diversity Council, she hopes to teach children that differences can be good and should be respected. She looks forward to the program being made available to children all grades. Julie says it is important to “learn, embrace and respect our differences in Mankato.” She is the mother of three teenagers.

   
  Tiffnie Jackson – MN-WI Baptist Convention
   
Brian Jones – Brian hopes organizations like the Diversity Council help people become more open-minded. “I feel that fear causes us to close ourselves to diversity, and I want that to change.” With degrees in Mass Communications and Educational Leadership and the position of Minnesota State University’s Admissions Scholarship Coordinator, Brian is poised to assess the impact of diversity on college admissions and communicate concerns to the rest of the community. Brian takes and active interest in local and state governments.
   
   
Dustin Lee – incorporating a variety of perspectives from his many cultural experiences is fundamental to Dustin’s desire to developing a sense of common good. From his work with the elderly and the physically and mentally disabled to his military experience in the Middle East, Dustin hopes to help strengthen the existing programs in Mankato and provide for the continued input and avenues of support for the area’s diverse populations. Dustin is a member of the Downtown Kiwanis and the Air Force Reserve.
 

Andrea MartiAndrea works as a Spanish Medical Interpreter at the Open Door Health Center in Mankato. Andrea, who has been blind since grade school, has shared her experiences with Mankato Area Public Schools’ West High School ninth graders through presentations during their Helen Keller unit since 1994. Andrea hopes that adults will also be able to participate in the same diversity discussions that are now offered to students through the Greater Mankato Diversity Council. She says she hopes that people will learn to treasure the differences among them rather than see them as flaws.

   
  Ali Ahmed Mayow – Minnesota State University, Mankato
   
  Calvin Moultrie – Minnesota State University, Mankato
   

Virginia McNear – Virginia has lived and worked in several countries for periods ranging from two weeks to two years. She earned her Bachelor of Science Nursing from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.  She volunteers at the law enforcement center in the records department and also reads to pre-schoolers. She is a widow although she feels more independent as a single person.  She has two sons who have one daughter each. 

   

Tony Pribbenow – Tony seeks to create a positive image for him and others who have a mental illness. He says Mankato is gifted to have so many unique qualities. He appreciates the opportunity to explore the differences of all individuals. Tony, a graduate of Mankato Area Public Schools’ West High School, is beginning his college career. He is a member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Minnesota Speakers Bureau and works at Carlson Craft in North Mankato.  He says he hopes everyone will explore diversity from many angles, that all will set an example of accepting others for who they are and that the seed of diversity will produce fruits of respect, honor and appreciation of differences

 

Marisel Riquelme – Marisel’s introduction to diversity began when her family moved from Chile to the Pacific Northwest and then to Minnesota. She hopes her personal journey will serve as a model for others to create an all-inclusive society. Marisel earned her bachelor’s degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is membership and marketing specialist for the Mankato Girl Scouts Peacepipe Council. In addition, she serves as a Girl Scout troop leader, YWCA board member, Kiwanis Club member and Mankato Area Healthy Youth member. She hopes that the work of the Greater Mankato Diversity Council facilitators will impact the Mankato area causing ripples throughout our state, country and world. She says she believes “diversity should be an ongoing educational component in everybody’s lives—this includes adults.” 

 
Stewart Ross – Celebrating cultural differences is one of the attitudes Stewart Ross hopes to foster as a Diversity Council volunteer. For Stewart and his family being members of the Jewish community in Mankato has given them insights into the obstacles faced by other minority populations. Stewart brings more than 30 years of teaching experience to his facilitator role, he has trained faculty groups studying diversity issues for the classroom.
 

Safaa Sallam – Safaa believes that the society can improve by creating “more channels of cooperation between community members to overcome racial and prejudice problems.” Safaa has taught students from countries and ethnic backgrounds in Egypt, Kuwait, the USSR and the United States. She speaks English and Arabic. She spends her time working with the Islamic Association of Mankato and has an interest in social activities of the Minnesota State University, Mankato Student Association. She has a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in business administration. Through her work through with the Diversity Council, she hopes to help create a future of equal opportunity for all people. She and her husband have three children. 

 

Raj Sethuraju – Raj says he draws his perspective of the human experience through growing up in Singapore, where he experienced great religious and cultural diversity. He earned a degree in sociology and currently is the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Carleton College. He says, “The cumulative experience of all people defines diversity. We should move beyond ‘e pluribus de Unum’ (in many we are one) to ‘in Unum plures’ (in one we are many.)”

 

Tara Snilsberg Tara says she’s sees beauty in her own individualism by drawing on her experiences as a person who is different abled. She seeks to encourage others to discover this uniqueness for themselves. She, a student at Bethany Lutheran College, is working toward a communications degrees. She serves as a board member for the Greater Mankato Diversity Council and Southern Minnesota Independent Living Enterprises and Services (S.M.I.L.E.S.). She hopes Mankato will grow its small town atmosphere by providing opportunities for all people to enjoy the parks, community centers, public fountains, etc. She also wants to encourage everyone to participate in community activities and interact positively with one another.

 

Jing Ni Soh – Jing Ni says her diversity “contributes to the community and it is worth celebrating!” She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, English and Malay. Ni says she experienced inclusion and exclusion as an international student while in college. She hopes to spread the spark for diversity through her work with the Diversity Council by helping to create a more inclusive and welcoming community for all.

 
Renee Soloman-Wise – as a minority member of the community and married to someone of a different race, Renee has first hand experience and views on prejudice. She has served as a Mankato YWCA Board member, a parent volunteer for the YMCA and as a Girl Scout troop leader. Renee thinks Mankato does a good job holding events that promote diversity but wants to see more opportunities for people of different cultures to come together naturally. By participating in the Diversity Council, Renee wants to do her part to make Mankato a welcoming community for any and all people of different backgrounds.
 

Paul Sorensen Paul sees himself as a work in progress because he has become more accepting of others with experience. He wants his first impression of those he meets to be positive and open. He has a bachelor’s degree in dairy science and master’s degrees in community counseling and theology and ministry. He works for Blue Earth County. He also serves on the Aid Association for Lutherans Fraternal Benefit Society and a 4-H leader.  He and his wife have two foreign-born sons as well as nieces and nephews from a variety of diverse backgrounds. 

 
Tracey Stokes-Hernandez – Tracy’s sense of her own diversity is evolving as she learns new things. While earning a degree in Mass Communications, Tracy served as a member of the Balk Student Union and on the Student Union Board. She works as an admissions counselor at Minnesota State University, Mankato and is a member of the Alliance for Pan African Professionals. Tracy hopes to have a role in facilitating networking among the separate cultural organizations.
 
Vance Stuehrenberg – ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and equally is the hope Vance has for the future of diversity in Mankato. After 27 years in law enforcement – five as “Officer Vance” in the School Liaison Program – Vance thinks he understands other cultures and lifestyles. Vance has served on the Steering Committee for Mankato Area Healthy Youth and Mankato Area Public School’s Anti-Violence Committee. Vance works as a host at a local restaurant and as a motorcycle instructor for the State of Minnesota.
   
Sandra Woods Sandra Woods – Greater Mankato Diversity Council
   
  Ryan Yunkers – Minnesota State University, Mankato