On Thursday, March 13, 2025, the third annual Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS) Arts Extravaganza transformed Ypsilanti Middle School into a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, and community!

Hosted by EOD Michigan, this electrifying multimedia event welcomed hundreds of K-12 students from across Ypsilanti Community Schools for an unforgettable afternoon of music, dance, and visual art—all centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The day was alive with songs and dances from a rich array of cultural traditions, performed by our talented students. The middle school band delivered a powerful performance, choirs filled the air with soaring harmonies, and the walls of the theater became a living gallery, showcasing over fifty stunning student-created art pieces celebrating diversity.

Adding even more excitement to the day, former Ypsilanti High School student and rising rap star, Kid Jay, took the stage, delivering an unforgettable performance! A proud supporter of his community, Kid Jay never hesitates to give back, and his high-energy set had the crowd on their feet, proving that Ypsilanti talent shines both locally and beyond.

With teachers, administrators, and families cheering them on, the students radiated confidence and pride, showing once again that the arts have the power to unite and inspire.

What afternoon to remember!

Ann Arbor police say they have been getting many reports of hate incidents over the past couple of weeks.

Executive Director, Nancy Margolis, talks with CTN Ann Arbor about the significant impact Embracing Our Differences Michigan provides for the area.

The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission is announcing the winners of the 2023 Golden Paintbrush Awards: Embracing our Differences Michigan. The Golden Paintbrush Awards were nominated by the community to recognize the creativity and talent of artists and organizations that have contributed to the cultural and aesthetic richness of Ann Arbor in the form of public art.

The Community Voice Award was also presented to Embracing Our Differences Michigan.

“I had seen the banners at Gallup Park, and I was very interested in the concept of using art to make people more aware and hopefully embrace all in our diverse world,” recalls EOD’s Director of Education, Key Wade.

Nancy Margolis shares her journey establishing Embracing Our Differences Michigan, an art and education program promoting diversity. With banners showcasing global and local art, the program stimulates conversations about diversity, offering free field trips and workshops. Margolis emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive society and highlights the challenge of securing sustainable funding for the program’s impactful initiatives.

A mural designed by Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti students in collaboration with a nationally-known muralist now graces a building next to the Ypsilanti Transit Center. The mural’s theme of diversity and inclusion includes imagery of a bus driver connecting the two communities of Ann Arbor and Ypsi.

Ann Arbor nonprofit Embracing Our Differences Michigan (EOD Michigan) recently hosted a joint workshop to share curricula on diversity and the arts with both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti teachers. 

Creative industries in Washtenaw County add hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy. Host Deb Polich, the President and CEO of Creative Washtenaw, explores the myriad of contributors that make up the creative sector in Washtenaw County. She talks with Chris Gant to learn more about Embracing Our Differences Michigan.

Nancy Margolis of Embracing our Differences Michigan shares how these works of art send messages of love, diversity, and equality, Humane Pet Acquisition Ordinance, and take a peek at Island Park.

Curiosity piqued and voice memo ready, I decided to document the experience, the intertwining of art, culture, and diversity. And you, my Dear Reader, are here with me, sharing this journey, your curiosity as evident as mine.

“A couple years ago I saw this exhibit in Sarasota in one of their parks, and it was so fabulous that I talked to their executive director about bringing it here to Washtenaw County,” Margolis says.

The public art exhibit featured enormous vinyl banners with images celebrating diversity and inclusion.

Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS) will present its first K-12 Arts Extravaganza on May 16, in partnership with and sponsored by the arts nonprofit Embracing Our Differences Michigan. 

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Ypsilanti Community Schools’ young artists will show off their artistic ability at the first annual YCS Arts Extravaganza sponsored by Embracing Our Differences. The event will be held at Morris Lawrence Building on the campus of Washtenaw Community College on May 16, 2023, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The purpose of this event is to celebrate the diversity and inclusion of all students. The YCS Unified Arts teachers and students welcome families to view artwork displays and view student musical and dance performances. “Our YCS Unified Arts partnership with Embracing Our Differences is an opportunity for our students and teachers to exercise their voice, choice, and agency unapologetically to advocate and serve as co-conspirators for social justice and celebrate our great diversity together.” Dr. Carlos Lopez, Assistant Superintendent, Ypsilanti Community Schools. 

Ypsilanti Community Schools Visual Arts Coordinator Kathy Fisk, in collaboration with the YCS Unified Arts team, has taken the lead in coordinating this program which is a collaboration between Embracing Our Differences and Ypsilanti Community Schools. “We congratulate YCS for their exciting work in celebrating diversity. Embracing Our Differences Michigan is proud to partner with YCS and offer our support and encouragement. ” Nancy Margolis, Executive Director, Embracing Our Differences Michigan. 

All expenses for this project are being funded by Embracing Our Difference of Michigan. 

Ypsilanti Community Schools is a PreK-12 district that offers students and families access to a rigorous, culturally responsive curriculum through individualized support that helps students advance their learning. We offer project-based learning, Small Learning Communities (SLCs), small class sizes, high dosage tutoring, a K-5 and 6-12 International Baccalaureate curriculum, a STEMM Middle College, Dual Enrollment, a comprehensive Fine Arts program, and a highly qualified teaching staff that cares about the relationships we have with our students and families. 

We are committed to providing every student with an education that supports voice, choice, and student agency. We use restorative practices to create a culture of belonging where we do with and not to students, and we are intentional to ensure that every student is seen, heard, understood, valued, respected, and cared for. 

For more information, call (734) 221-1221.

Embracing Our Differences Michigan is accepting art and quotation submissions for its 2023 exhibit. The nonprofit organization is an art and educational program revolving around diversity, inclusion, and equity.

At their retreat last week, the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education visited an exhibit that uses the power of art and prose to promote diversity. They became the latest members of the AAPS community to visit Embracing Our Differences Michigan at Gallup Park and three other locations in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. 

I spy “the art installation at the SE corner of Huron Parkway and Geddes,” writes Ellen Bauerle. “These are the ‘Embracing Our Differences’ banners in Gallup Park,” says Marilyn Knepp. “Wonderful billboard-size pieces on diversity and equality,” adds Amy Barnett. EOD (embracingourdifferences.org) started their annual exhibit in 2004 and receives entries from around the world. 

Nancy Margolis & Lynne Settles with Embracing Our Differences share how these billboard sized arts at area parks are changing the way people think about equality.

Sixty vinyl banners enlarge images representing ideas by local and distant artists paired with slogans submitted independently by other interested contributors.

To elevate the diversity of our experiences, stories and identities through creative expression, U-M and Michigan Medicine became major sponsors of the new non-profit organization, Embracing Our Differences Michigan.

Deb Polich, president and CEO of Creative Washtenaw, at the WEMU studio talks with Nancy Margolis and Lynne Settles of Embracing Our Differences Michigan about the impact art has in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti communities.