NewsHour’s special correspondent and part-time Sarasota resident, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, explored how the exhibit encourages inclusion as part of her ongoing series investigating solutions to racism.
(March 31, 2022) Embracing Our Differences and its 2022 international art exhibit was featured on PBS NewsHour on March 30. The nearly seven-minute long segment was part of “Canvas,” the program’s arts and culture series. Charlayne Hunter-Gault, NewsHour’s special correspondent and a part-time Sarasota resident, has been exploring creative solutions to racism. During the March 30 program, she focused on the ways that EOD’s annual exhibit encourages the values of inclusion and mutual respect. NewsHour host Judy Woodruff introduced the segment with, “In Sarasota, Florida, large-scale artworks are being used to teach students about diversity, inclusion, and mental health. This comes at a time when there is growing controversy in the state, and school districts across the country, over how and whether to teach about racism in America.”
The NewsHour segment included an interview with Sarah Wertheimer, EOD’s executive director, on location at the exhibit in Sarasota’s downtown Bayfront Park. Wertheimer discussed this year’s exhibit, which covers a broad range of personal views and artistic expression with the core purpose of uniting diverse voices. She voiced her confidence in the empowering effect of EOD’s educational initiatives for regional students over the past 19 years. What happens when these young people grow up? Wertheimer replied with an optimistic note regarding their ability to make positive changes in the future.
“We get to see them grow up, from being younger students going on the field trips to students in our high school coexistence clubs, who then lead the younger students around on their tours,” said Wertheimer. “And we get to see already that change they’ve made, and then how much they plan on being activists for human rights and for social justice. And that’s why we’re hopeful.”
Since 2004, EOD’s outdoor art exhibit, celebrating the theme of “enriching lives through diversity,” has showcased the art and words of thousands of artists and writers from around the world, including hundreds of area-based students and educators. Embracing Our Differences’ annual outdoor exhibits are the heart of a year-round program of activities designed to use art as a catalyst to create awareness and promote diversity. The 2022 exhibit continues through April 10 at Sarasota’s Bayfront Park. For more information about Embracing Our Differences, call (941) 404-5710 or visit www.embracingourdifferences.org.
About Embracing Our Differences
Embracing Our Differences is a not-for-profit organization that uses the transformational power of art and education to celebrate and promote the diversity of the human family. It accomplishes this through an annual, large-scale outdoor juried art exhibition and a comprehensive series of educational initiatives, programs and resources designed for teachers and students. Visit www.embracingourdifferences.org.