Drawn to diversity

teaches history, inspires artists, cultivates dialogue and fights ignorance through creative exhibits and programs. Drawn to Diversity was created in 2005 by a group of students at along with the Director of Student Activities, who aspired to build an appreciation for diversity and to champion equality by exploring various media and art forms.

Drawn to Diversity hosts an annual series that chooses one medium or art form per year and explores the presence of often underrepresented populations in that specific area. In 2005, the Drawn to Diversity students applied for a Youth Venture grant from a college-branch of MTV and received funding for their first series.

In 2006, Marvel Comics and collaborated to design a poster chronicling Marvel's history of incorporating diverse character representations into its comics. The theme for the 2006 series was, An Exploration of Diversity through Comic Books.

In 2007, Marvel hosted Drawn to Diversity: An Exploration of Diversity in Newspaper Comic Strips. The second poster in the series was created by legendary cartoonist

Turner was scheduled to appear at Alfred University for the second annual show, but fell ill and was unable to attend. Fellow comic strip artists rallied together to step in for the legendary cartoonist. The list of stand-ins included: and . This event included cartooning lessons for kids ages 6-17, a dramatic interpretation of comic history performed by AU students, and a panel session where the artists provided an inside look into the comic strip industry.

In the spring of 2007, the group went to the and continued to spread the word of their program hoping to launch a tour of NYC schools and libraries.

In the summer of 2007, Drawn to Diversity went to the and performed their first road show in front of 40 students.

Currently Drawn to Diversity has been featured on , [http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title708428535&channel687140584_ bright cove tv], [http://www.mojogroup.tv/Wickedly%20Cool%2013.php_ E Asylum] and in various other media. The theme for their third annual program is the Exploration of Diversity through Advertising, which plans to explore how different marginalized groups have been depicted in American commercial advertising across time. Drawn to Diversity is currently trying to pursue a partnership with the to display this history of advertising icons in their various stores. A Drawn to Diversity class also will be offered through Alfred University and is open to all majors on campus with hopes of bringing the various schools on campus together.

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