Cultural Jambalaya’s Strategic Partners

At the forefront of the world’s human rights movement, The Advocates for Human Rights creates and maintains lasting, comprehensive and holistic change on a global scale by implementing international human rights standards to promote civil society and reinforce the rule of law.  For more than 30 years, its innovative programming has changed the lives of refugees and immigrants, women, ethnic and religious minorities, children and other marginalized communities.

The Advocates’ K-12 education program also teaches global human rights in the classroom.  Because education is one of the best ways to ensure long-term improvements in respect for human rights everywhere, The Advocates is at the forefront of developing educational tools that help people learn about and apply international human rights standards in their families, schools, workplaces and communities.  Educators can access free curricula, lesson plans, toolkits and a wealth of materials on various human rights issues. Students can access interactive, youth-friendly resources on human rights, including online video games, take action ideas, thought-provoking films, and more. And other advocates can discover resources, tools, and trainings that help individuals and organizations learn about human rights issues and apply a human rights approach to their own social justice work.

Books For Africa aims to end the book famine in Africa by creating a culture of literacy and providing the tools of empowerment to the next generation of parents, teachers, and leaders in Africa.  Books For Africa believes that education is the great equalizer in the world, and books are at the foundation of a strong educational system. Access to an education is one of the only opportunities young people has to end the cycle of poverty and attain a better quality of life than previous generations.

Responding to the urgent need to get textbooks into the hands of African learners, the organization collects, sorts, ships and distributes books to African students of all ages. Books For Africa remains the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent, shipping over 40 million books to 53 different countries since 1988.  Over the past 12 months, it has shipped three million books, 93 computers and e-readers containing 223,000 digital books, as well as 10 new law and human rights libraries to 18 African countries.

From the 2nd grader to the CEO, Global Minnesota connects individuals, organizations and communities to the world. Through a unique lineup of programs offered from the Twin Cities to Greater Minnesota, Global Minnesota takes relevant and timely information on international issues, foreign policy and cultural topics, and provides the space and opportunity for Minnesotans to engage and discuss.  The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization delivers programs that allow Minnesotans to connect and participate in the international sphere, and for Minnesota to extend its influence around the globe.

The next generation of global thinkers is sitting in K-12 classrooms across the U.S. They are remarkable individuals who will set the course for global politics, push for environmental progress, advance technology and health, and advocate for the world’s most vulnerable populations.  Global Minnesota’s K-12 resources support educators and students in their efforts to learn more about the world and develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for success in today’s global society. Global Minnesota‘s programs bring the world’s cultures directly to Minnesota, where students, teachers and international volunteers come together for interactive cross-cultural conversations and lessons by providing engaging, high-quality resources for teachers and students who wish to deepen and even test their understanding of world affairs.

Intermediate District 287 is an education leader focused on innovative solutions for 11 member school districts in the Twin Cities. For more than 50 years, District 287 provides its districts and other education professionals with customized student services and educator resources so that all students get the best education possible.  Its culture of innovation produces ideas that meet the unique learning needs of students.

District 287’s award-winning Minnesota Partnership for Collaborative Curriculum (MPCC) is a one-of-a-kind initiative in the United States and provides digital curriculum to more than 200 school districts in Minnesota and nationwide, reaching hundreds of thousands of students.  MPCC is a grassroots initiative among Minnesota school districts to create a comprehensive collection of digital open education resources (OER).  The project creates digital course work for each of the four core subject areas – Math, Science, English Language Arts and Social Studies –  for grades 3-12.  Materials are developed for additional grade levels and subject areas.  With alignment to Minnesota standards, courses are written by teachers in collaboration with content experts and local educational organizations.

World Savvy is a national nonprofit working to reimagine K-12 education for a more globally connected world. They know students must be prepared not only to succeed in the future, but also to take responsibility for a global community that will require even more resilient peacemakers, courageous problem solvers, and passionate leaders. That’s why they’re empowering educators to make school inclusive, relevant, and engaging for all students, inspiring them to learn, work, and thrive as responsible global citizens. Their programs focus on systems change by increasing student engagement, expanding teacher capacity, and strengthening school and district leadership.

As a result of their work, World Savvy envisions a world in which students graduate:

• Equipped to collaborate and cooperate as active citizens in more diverse, local communities.
• Prepared as problem solvers, poised to address future local and global challenges that are increasingly interconnected and interdependent.
• With the knowledge and skills necessary for future jobs in a global economy.

Since 2002, World Savvy has reached more than 655,000 students and 4,500 teachers across 25 states and 5 countries.

Youth Frontiers is the leading character education organization in the Upper Midwest. For more than 30 years, its successful and highly regarded retreats teach students how to incorporate the values of kindness, courage, respect and integrity into their personal and school lives. YF aims to strengthen core values, confront negative behaviors and enable students to recognize the consequences of their actions. Since its inception in 1987, the nonprofit has reached more than 1.7 million students.

YF offers high-impact retreats for schools, using interactive games, music, small discussion groups and gripping stories to break down walls between young people, helping them to see each other differently. Throughout the retreat day, students begin to exhibit traits of true character – mending relationships, stating acts of courage and respecting themselves and others. YF also inspires character and builds communities by holding one another accountable for behaviors, while standing up for one another. As the organization strives to create a healthier school climate in which students can thrive academically, socially and emotionally, YF engages the 80 percent of students who aren’t bullied or bully themselves – known as “bystanders” – to no longer stand by and watch others being bullied.

Comprehensive follow-up materials also provide a way for educators and students to extend the impact of the retreat.