Open My Eyes Open My Soul:Celebrating Our Common Humanity, is a
special collection of poetry and stories, with contributions
from people of all walks of life. The book includes entries from
celebrities such as Maya Angelou, Margaret Cho, Muhammad Ali,
Dr. Bernie Siegel, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, along with
a diverse group of contributors.
I am very proud and humbled to have been a part of the creation
of this wonderful anthology, along with my co-creator, Yolanda
King, who is the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and
Coretta Scott King, who graciously wrote our books foreword.
It excites me beyond words to see this book being used in ways
we didn't even perceive, during its' creation. Since the book
was published, in December 2003, we have received much feedback
on the many ways this book is being used, as a teaching tool.
Diversity trainers, in the areas of Human Resource, jumped at
the chance to purchase many copies of the book and start using
it as diversity training material for their organizations.
Roger Rosas wrote us this message: " I just finished reading
your book "Open My Eyes, Open My Soul" and I would like to tell
you how magnificent your book is. I am a Diversity Project
Manager for Liberty Mutual and your book has make me see
Diversity in a total different prospective. I am also a member
of the Houston Human Resources Association and member of the
Diversity Committee. I am plan to give your book as a gift to
each member of the Committee. I know that they all will enjoy it
as much as I do."
In addition to the workplace, people are using our book in
churches and many classrooms nationwide.
Shanedria Ridley, M. Ed wrote us this note "As a national
educational consultant (and former schoolteacher) who is
frequently called upon to devise solutions to instructional
challenges, I am constantly seeking materials and sources that
can positively impact our great and troubled generation.
Illiteracy and intolerance continue to gnaw away the foundation
of our educational institutions, the training grounds for our
future leaders. Your book serves as an antidote to both of these
societal ills."
This response has prompted us on a journey to create a study
guide and online courses for diversity training as well as a
curriculum for educators, in the classroom.
Both Yolanda King and I have been able to creatively build
keynote presentations, on the topic of diversity, pulling from
just a few entries in our book each. Yolanda pulls from her
skill of an actor and dramatizes the readings of Muhammad Ali,
and Stevie Wonder. She also turned one popular poem "Agape" by
Jimmi Ware, into a rap song.
I use humor from my own diverse cultural background and I
created a silent film from one of the stories "Danny", who was a
foster child that was loved by and then taken away from his
best-friend, Abby Warmuth.
We have happily found the possibilities to this book....
endless.
I even used the book to conduct a four hour employee diversity
training, for a Fortune 500 company's diversity council, on
communication skills, pulling heavily from an entry by Lynise
Harris titled appropriately "The Perfect Lesson".
I was also able to engage the audience by soliciting volunteers
to act out some of the other readings in the book. I feel the
bonds we formed that day, learning together as a team, will last
us a life time.
The messages in our book touch people on what I call a heart
level. When the emotions are stirred and new perspectives are
shared, people tend to sit back and reflect on the message. They
are not being preached to, but enlightened to a new way of
thinking. Then they can do their own self-examination of their
soul and find areas where they can make positive and proactive
changes. Often times the stories resonate with the reader
because they have had similar situations in their life.
Our approach is different than preaching or mandating new
regulations. Not that there isn't a place for those tactics, but
using this book, Open My Eyes Open My Soul, seems to inspires a
common sense way of treating all of humanity with respect. I am
not talking about treating everyone the same, but with the same
level of respect.
I believe the lessons in this book enlighten people, who may not
have known they were treating others different than themselves,
so that they can connect and create more harmonious
relationships.
Obviously, you may think as the co-creator, I'm just a wee bit
biased. However, what you may not know is how much I have
learned from our contributors and how much I feel I have grown
as an individual, since taking this project on.
I can honestly tell you that I had no foresight into being a
diversity trainer prior to the creation of this book. However, I
am loving this experience and I plan to continue spreading the
word of the benefits, when using Open My Eyes, Open My Soul as a
diversity training tool.
? Copyright 2005 Elodia Tate all rights reserved. Permission to
reprint granted with full article reprint, author credit and a
link back to my site.
Elodia Tate is a best-selling author and professional speaker,
who is known for using humor & story telling to connect with her
audience. She enjoys speaking to small groups as well as large
audiences.
To contact Elodia Tate visit http://www.elodiatate.com
About the author:
Elodia Tate is a best-selling author and professional speaker,
who is known for using humor & story telling to connect with her
audience. She enjoys speaking to small groups as well as large
audiences.
|
