EDMOND —
We all have stereotypes, although many people do not recognize the fact. That is until they come face to face with a Jellybean.
iCelebrateDiversity.com’s founder, Tracy Jackson of Edmond has found a sweet and creative way to reach children as young as preschoolers as well as adults about the simple message of not judging people by their appearance.
In fact, she uses candy to spread the message. Diversity Jellybeans look like ordinary jellybeans, but they have a secret.
“You can’t determine what is on the inside by simply looking at the outside,” Jackson said.
A red jellybean might taste like licorice and a black jellybean might taste like coconut. It’s always a surprise with 36 flavor and color combinations.
“Many schools use them as part of their anti-bullying and teaching tolerance curriculum,” Jackson said. “It’s a simple but resonate message that translates from the classroom to the boardroom. From Apple to Disney to Starbucks, corporations committed to diversity have utilized Diversity Jellybeans as a training tool to bring awareness to subconscious stereotyping and hidden biases.”
Chief diversity officer and partner with Andrews Kurth LLP in Houston, Elizabeth Campbell uses the Diversity Jellybeans as training tools to develop initial awareness and diversity inclusion.
“I use them in the sessions I lead to demonstrate people have stereotypes they may not be aware of,” Campbell said. “Participants associate jellybean colors with a flavor. For instance, my favorite are black jellybeans and one expects them to be licorice flavored, and they choose to eat the black one first or save it for last.”
Campbell said participants usually look for a color that matches their expectations. The surprise happens when the jellybeans don’t have the flavors assigned to a color.
With a small candy jellybean Campbell shows a demonstrated stereotype based on past experience, she said.
“If you can have a stereotype about a jellybean imagine what kind of stereotype you might have with people,” Campbell said. “Unconscious bias which may be subconscious and micro inequities which may not be blatant, come into play.”
Campbell added, “It is human to have stereotypes. The thing we all get are the jellybeans. They are a very valuable tool for training.”
10,000 Pounds of Jellybeans
Jackson is facing a problem, though. Her supplier went out of business, her jellybean stock is depleted and she has customers waiting to place orders.
“This is both my biggest nightmare and biggest opportunity,” Jackson said. “I have to turn away orders because I don’t have enough capital to meet the new manufacturer’s 10,000-pound minimum for custom jellybeans.”
Being a creative entrepreneur, Jackson took to the popular crowd funding site Indiegogo.com three weeks ago to help raise the money. While she has raised nearly half of her $10,000 goal, her deadline of July 9 is fast approaching and if she does not reach her goal, she will receive nothing.
Tracy is hoping people will open their hearts (and wallets) to help her keep spreading this important, yet tasty, sugar-coated message. To get involved or learn more about her campaign, visit www.indiegogo.com/
stop-stereotyping
iCelebrateDiversity.com is an Edmond-based company that launched in August 2001. The company has grown from being an Internet resource for parents to a leading resource for schools and corporations looking for unique tools to assist in teaching about diversity, stereotyping, bullying and team building. For more information, call 426-9706 or visit iCelebrateDiversity.com.
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PATTY MILLER | THE EDMOND SUN iCelebrateDiversity.com's founder, Tracy Jackson of Edmond, uses jellybeans to teach lessons about diversity, and she is trying to raise $10,000 to purchase the 10,000-pound minimum for custom jellybeans as a way of teaching about stereotypes. To learn more, visit www.indiegogo.com/stop-stereotyping.
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Business spreads diversity with jelly beans
Owner seeks $10,000 for 10,000 pounds of Diversity Jellybeans
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