For many, talking about race and cultural issues isn’t as easy as discussing the weather or last night’s reality show. The topic is important, complex, and emotional – it touches our community in many ways. SCOPE invited community members to have a new conversation about race and cultural relations. Read more in the Race & Cultural Relations Report.

The Coalition for Inclusion and Diversity (CID) grew out of this conversation, and continues to work in our community. Read on for more information about the CID.

CID is a volunteer-led group of individuals, associations and businesses that works to provide the opportunity for every community member to thrive in Sarasota County regardless of age, color, ability, ethnic/national origin, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

Our broad goals are to:

• Convene members on an ongoing basis to build relationships
• Invite new voices to the conversation
• Initiate collaborations among members
• Build community capacity through learning opportunities
• Respond to community incidents contrary to our mission
• Serve as an entry point for connecting to the diversity/inclusion community

Click here to see our 2007 report. See our photo collection. Support CID.

CID YOUTH INITIATIVE
The Youth Initiative of the Coalition for Inclusion & Diversity is collaboration between youth, adult volunteers and local organizations that provides learning and leadership opportunities to the community around issues of diversity and inclusion. A broad spectrum of community partners have worked alongside youth since 2006 to promote respect for differences and a more inclusive community. See photos in our photo gallery

>Learn more about Unity Days 2009.

Volunteers are needed to help coordinate, support, and promote Unity Days in each high school in Sarasota County in the 2008-2009 school year!

Accomplishments:

• Youth have founded diversity clubs and hosted 7 day-long “Unity Days” at their schools, reaching over 300. The goal of Unity Days is to create safer schools by effecting changes in student and staff knowledge, skills, relationships and personal behavior relating to diversity, interpersonal skills and character development. This is accomplished through activities that are hands-on and experiential and incorporate reading, dialogue, art, music, and physical activities. Not only are participants affected, but they in turn affect many others throughout the school. (2007-2008)
• Raised over $7,000 to send 9 high school students to the nationally celebrated Anytown, a 5-day residential diversity awareness and leadership program created by Community Tampa Bay. (2007)
• Convened over 100 people gathered at a local middle school to discuss and hear adult and youth panelists speak on the topic of “Youth and Diversity.” Partners include SCOPE, United Way, several faith-based groups, youth organizations, a GLBTQ youth advocacy organization, and the School Board of Sarasota County. (2008)

Contact: Stephen Warne, (941) 951-2576, program.coordinator@alsoyouth.org

DIVERSITY  DIRECTORY
The CID is developing a directory of different groups, clubs and organizations in our community that work to foster an inclusive community that values diversity. Diversity-focused nonprofits, agencies, clubs, associations, etc. are encouraged to participate. By publishing the directory, the CID intends to connect diversity-focused efforts in our community and provide access to residents.

Download the Directory

Contact: If your organization would like to be included in the Directory, contact April Doner at SCOPE at adoner@scopexcel.org.

COMMUNITY FORUMS

Youth, Diversity and Positive Solutions - October 2009
On Thursday October 8th, 2009, the CID co-hosted a citizen’s initiative to find positive solutions to racism, discrimination, and violence in our society. The event was co-sponsored by The Southwest Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice (www.swfcpj.org/).

A continuation of the 'Sarasota Cares' Forum held on June 25, 2009, this forum focused on open discussions among audience and community members, allowing us to enhance the efforts and approaches that are already underway in Sarasota County. We welcomed a panel of community leaders including Susan Chapman, speaking on Citizens Oversight; Jim Delgado, discussing immigrant rights and the migrant experience; Jennifer Mainey will talk about the importance of diversity training in the schools and we were pleased to welcome a special panel of youth discussing their views on positive solutions to violence and diversity.

Moderators Alexandra Coe, Augie Schmitz and Cody Hart hosted the event. Opening remarks were given by Joyce Raby, Congressional District 13 representative of The Peace Alliance, on county wide efforts to increase non violence and diversity support in our community.

Youth, Violence and Diversity – June, 2009
On June 25, 2009 the CID co-hosted the forum Sarasota Cares—a public forum on diversity, positive change, and violence prevention.

The speakers addressed what they are doing now and in the future to prevent violence and focused on how Sarasota is making positive changes to introduce diversity into various aspects of our community. The latter half of the forum was dedicated to community members' questions, comments and suggestions.

The speakers for the forum included: Mayor Dick Clapp, who gave the welcome address, Lt. Tim Enos, Sarasota Sheriff’s Office, Rachel Wasserman, Sarasota Military Academy, Pam Donehew, Sarasota Military Academy, Capt. Lucius Bonner, Sarasota Police Department, April Barnwell, community member and CID member, and Chris Cale, Vice Principal of Sarasota High School. Cody Hart moderated.

Youth and Diversity – January 2008
On January 27 from 2-4:30 pm, the CID hosted an intergenerational conversation on the subject of youth and diversity. The program featured a panel including Ed James Jr., Charles McKenzie, Jim Delgado, Michael Shelton and Jennifer Mainey; breakout groups for community participation in the following areas: Immigration, Inter-faith, Race Relations, GLBTQ, Disabilities, Schools, and Media as a Bridge. 

Community Forum on Hate Crimes – October 2007
The Coalition for Inclusion & Diversity convened 200 community members on Sunday, October 21, 2007 to address the question, "How can our community prevent and respond to hate crimes?" The program included stories from a family affected by a recent hate crime, an expert speaker on hate crimes from the Anti-Defamation League and a panel with representatives from local media and law enforcement. Topic conversations sparked ideas for taking action to prevent and respond to hate crimes. The CID also collected over 50 letters of support for the family victimized by the July 6 arson and vandalism hate crime.

1. Become a CID Member. Membership is free and connects you to a network of people and organizations who share your desire to create positive local change around diversity and inclusion.  Benefits include a quarterly e-newsletter, early notifications of CID and diversity-related events in the community, and the opportunity to take on leadership  within the CID. Email info@CIDSarasota.org to join.
   
   
2. Volunteer.  The CID exists because its members choose to take action around a shared passion. Your time, talents, and ideas can make a difference. View volunteer opportunities.
   
   
3. Donate.  Donations are tax-deductible and support CID activities such as Unity Days and community forums.  Download donation form.

ALSO Out Youth
Alta Vista Neighborhood Association
American Assn. of University Women
American Heart Assoc./American Stroke Assoc.
American Jewish Committee
Art Center Sarasota
Bella Concepts
Brothers and Sisters Doing the Right Thing
Center for Religious Tolerance
Church of the Trinity
City of Sarasota Human Relations Board
Cody Hart Live WSRQ 1220 AM
COLLAGE
Community Counsel Project
Community Youth Development
Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
Covenant Mennonite Fellowship
Embracing Our Differences
Family Heritage House Museum
First Congregational United Church of Christ
Florida Academy of African-American Culture
Friendship Volunteer Center
FTTD Media Group
Gentle Storm Productions
Greater Sarasota’s Great Kids, Inc.
Gulfcoast Legal Services
Habitat for Humanity
Habitude
Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County
Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Joel May Architecture
Kevin F. Sanderson, Chartered
Legal Aid of Manasota
Lowery Communications
Manasota GLBT Community Center, Inc.
Microtraining Associates, Inc.
NAACP
New College of Florida
Nupur Saj School of Performing Arts
PFLAG
Planned Parenthood of SW & Cent. FL
Project: Return to Work
Richardson, Kleiber, Walter Realty
Ringling College of Art & Design
Rising Tide International
Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell
Russian-American Association
Sarasota Bar Association Diversity Committee
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Sarasota County Public Schools
Sarasota County School Board
Sarasota Manatee Jewish Federation
Sarasota Partnership for Children's Mental Health
SCOPE
Second Thought Productions
Smith Soeder Enterprises, Inc.
Soul Speak / Soul Moves
SPARCC
St. Boniface Episcopal Church
Steve McAllister
Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness
Suncoast Stonewall Democrats
Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County
Teens for Change
The Better World Foundation
Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care
United Way of Sarasota County
USF-- Sarasota-Manatee Diversity Committee
Venice Gardens Civic Association
Virtually Unanimous
Westcoast Black Theatre
Williams, Parker, Harrison, Dietz & Getzen
WSLR-LP 96.5 FM Community Radio
Young Professionals Group