- April 19, 2024
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Event chairs Embracing Our Differences board member Graci McGillicuddy, Board Chairman Dennis McGillicuddy and event speaker Booker High School principal and Florida Principal of the Year Rachel Shelley.
Twelfth Circuit Court Judge Rochelle Curley and event chair Embracing Our Difference board member Carol Poteat-Buchanan
Asa Thomas and Tomeika Koski
Hermione Gilpin, Genie Aberson and Pat Baer
Jon Thaxton, Board Chairman Dennis McGillicuddy and Marlon Brown
Joan and Peter Wells
Yolanda Mancha and Tanya Orr
Terry Brackett and Aundria Castleberry
Helen McBean and Edward James II
Lucy Lapides and Leonard Drexler
Bruce Wertheimer, Patti Wertheimer, Larry Haspel and Leesa Haspel
Embracing Our Differences board member Chief Judge Charles E. Williams and Maria Thacker
Christina Rodrigues, Joni Steinberg and Flora Oynick
Adrea Sukin and Nadia Ritter
Geraldine Drexler, Nelle Miller and Beth Duda
Event chairs Embracing Our Differences board member Graci McGillicuddy, Board Chairman Dennis McGillicuddy, event speaker Booker High School principal and Florida Principal of the Year Rachel Shelley and Superintendent Todd Bowden
Jarred Wilson, Shirley Brown, Gabriel Hament and Jane Goodwin
Joanne Powers, Superintendent Todd Bowden and Veronica Brady
Delia Smith-Orth and Victoria Kasdan
Bunny Skirboll and Betty Schoenbaum
Graci McGillicuddy applauds the Embracing Our Differences staff and board members during its annual luncheon.
Before celebrating the future, Embracing Our Differences staff, donors and patrons took a look back on Dec. 5 at Michael's On East during the organization's annual luncheon.
Embracing Our Differences, which aims to encourage diversity through art, organizes an annual juried art show at Bayfront Park. Since its inception, the submissions to the show have increased from 124 pieces from artists in Southwest Florida to 10,761 submissions from 115 countries, 48 states and 204 schools.
Executive Director Michael Shelton said in a release the increase is indicative of a national conversation — one that makes the work of Embracing Our Differences all the more relevant.
“Sadly, hate isn’t a thing of the past in our society," Shelton said. "Now more than ever, the message of inclusion matters ... Thanks to the passion and commitment of thousands of participants, patrons, and volunteers over these 15 years, ‘embracing diversity’ is no longer just an empty slogan.”
