Selichot

At this event we will learn from guest speaker, Sarah Wertheimer, about Embracing Our Differences program. Embracing Our Differences is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of art and education to expand consciousness and open the heart to celebrate the diversity of the human family. It accomplishes this through an annual, large-scale, juried art exhibition and a comprehensive series of educational initiatives, programs and resources designed for teachers and students.

Sarah Wertheimer's Bio:

Our special guest speaker for our Selichot & Havdalah experience is Sarah Wertheimer. Sarah oversees the creation and implementation of all programming and fiscal planning for Embracing Our Differences which has grown to impact more than 400,000 adults and children annually. She is also responsible for the development of EOD's fundraising and community relations campaigns, as well as the organization's program growth and long-term sustainability goals. Sarah has spent the past twelve years working in the local non-profit community. She has served as director of development at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, development coordinator at Children First and currently serves on the board of directors of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, SW Florida, on the advisory board of the Boxser Diversity Initiative, and as Endowment Chair for the Junior League of Sarasota. In addition, Sarah participated in Leadership Florida Connect Class VIII and in 2017 was selected by SRQ Magazine as one of Sarasota's "30 Under 30." Sarah was born and raised in Sarasota and is extremely passionate about exposing our community to the concepts of diversity and inclusion, and helping create a world where individuality is celebrated. 

Embracing Our Differences Overview:

Embracing Our Differences is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of art and education to expand consciousness and open the heart to celebrate the diversity of the human family. It accomplishes this through an annual, large-scale, juried art exhibition and a comprehensive series of educational initiatives, programs and resources designed for teachers and students. In honor of our 20th anniversary, our theme this year is "Embracing Kindness" during a time when we need it more than ever. We are excited for our community to come together and honor the impact, change, and unity EOD has created over the past 20 years.

Our year-round education initiatives represent the most important aspect of our efforts – reaching and impacting the lives of thousands of students and teachers locally and around the world. Since 2004, more than 587,000 students have participated including 58,122 students and 1,981 teachers during the 2022-2023 school year alone. In addition to free field trips, Embracing Our Differences initiatives include workshops by nationally recognized educators and lesson plans connected to art appreciation and character building. All lesson plans are created under the supervision of Sarasota County School District's curriculum team and fully incorporate Florida State Standards.

Visual Thinking Strategies Program:

Featuring a deep look at multiple Embracing Our Differences artworks and quotations, this program will illuminate the exhibit theme “enriching lives through diversity and inclusion” while providing connections to art through Visual Thinking Strategies. Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a collaborative, participant-centered teaching method that utilizes critical thinking skills and fosters inclusive community-building dialogue through facilitated discussions of visual images. You do not need any special art training to use this strategy. The goal of VTS is not to teach the history of a work of art but, rather, to encourage participants to observe independently and then discuss in a group environment.