BDI Announces New Civil Rights Education Program, “Bending the Arc”

The Boxser Diversity Initiative is pleased to announce the launch of “Bending the Arc,” a program serving high school students in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, made by possible by a two-year, $225,000 grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. This new initiative aims to provide comprehensive civil rights education through a series of programs led by distinguished scholars and experts, culminating in a trip to visit significant civil rights sites in Alabama in 2025.

 

“We are deeply committed to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community,” said Dan Boxser, Co-Founder of the Boxser Diversity Initiative. “With the generous support of Barancik Foundation, we are excited to expand BDI’s programming and launch ‘Bending the Arc,’ which will include a curriculum designed to prepare students for what we hope is a life-changing trip.”

 

In addition to continuing its existing program offerings, such as lecture series, forums, film screenings, and other community initiatives – which are free and open to the public – BDI will introduce a curated series of experiences for the high school student participants starting this fall. Throughout the 2024-25 school year, students will have the opportunity to engage with historical materials, primary sources, and personal narratives to deepen their understanding of the civil rights movement and its ongoing relevance today.

 

Inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the name “Bending the Arc” refers to a 1968 speech in which Dr. King said, “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”

 

“For the past 15 years, BDI has been dedicated to fostering a more just and inclusive society through our programming,” said Litten Boxser, Co-Founder of the Boxser Diversity Initiative. “With ‘Bending the Arc,’ we aim to empower the next generation of leaders with the knowledge, empathy, and determination to create positive change in their communities.”

 

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