Embracing Our Differences' reading initiative spreads kindness, respect through literacy
Embracing Our Differences held its annual “Bucket Fillers” event at 83 elementary schools and early learning centers in Manatee and Sarasota counties on Nov. 14, expanding its reading initiative to more than 9,200 students.
Since her first book, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids,” was published in 2006, Carol McCloud, a nationally acclaimed author and Venice resident, has inspired millions of people of all ages to become daily “bucket fillers” through her books, seminars, and publications. McCloud's 10 children’s books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and are used in schools to inspire classrooms built on kindness and respect for all students.
“The Bucket Fillers books use the concept of an invisible bucket to encourage positive behavior and warm hearts," said Ben Jewell-Plocher, EOD’s learning and engagement director. "Each book shows children how rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation, and love to others.”
EOD has coordinated the Bucket Fillers initiative for the past six years through a partnership with Sarasota County Schools, the School District of Manatee County, and the Early Learning Coalitions in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Hundreds of volunteers joined the initiative to read from books to more than 9,200 students in pre-kindergarten through third grade in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Each classroom and student also received a gifted copy of the Bucket Fillers book selected for their grade, thanks to support of the Kiwanis Club of Sarasota, Manatee Education Foundation, Cardinal Rule Press and Embracing Our Differences donors.
This year’s participation numbers represent an increase of 1,000 students and 45 classrooms over last fall, with an additional 71 classrooms on the waiting list. To support the increased participation, some classrooms virtually read along with artists from Asolo Rep, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Venice Theatre, and Westcoast Black Theatre via prerecorded interactive videos.
For 20 years, Embracing Our Differences has drawn on the passion and perception of artists, students, and writers to create powerful statements of inclusion, kindness and respect in its annual outdoor public art exhibition consisting of 50 billboard-sized works of art and accompanying quotes. The outdoor exhibition has attracted more than 4.3 million visitors since its inception.
The exhibit is the heart of a year-round program of activities designed to use art as a catalyst to create awareness and promote diversity. Next year’s Bayfront Park exhibit runs Jan. 21-April 14. For the first time since 2004, the exhibit will also be displayed in St. Petersburg on March 2-March 31 at Poynter Park.
For more information, call 941-404-5710, or visit embracingourdifferences.org.
Submitted by Sue Byron
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: EOD reading initiative spreads kindness, respect through literacy
