Testimonials

"Bringing Partnership to our organization has made a dramatic difference in the level of communication, collaboration, trust and consideration among staff. It also gave me the language and the skills to effectively and genuinely support staff in resolving conflicts and problem-solving. Knowing that there is someone there that I can call and get support from when issues arise, which they always do, has been invaluable."

Margaret Gutierrez
Director Mid-Hudson Mid Hudson Migrant Education Outreach Program

"The partnership initiative has provided the basis for staff to take on more responsibilities and be more accountable. I am overjoyed during meetings when staff at all levels is voicing their opinions and thoughts on issues that effect this division. Not only are they expressing their thoughts, but they are listening to others without judging. This has improved the quality of our programs and results in overwhelming outcomes."

Velma Smith
Executive Director, Rural Opportunities, New York Division

"Opening Doors is a powerful resource and impetus for diversity initiatives within Cornell Cooperative Extension at the individual, team and organizational levels. Participants in Opening Doors routinely identify it as a profound growth experience… that certainly was the case for me."

Michael W. Duttweiler
Assistant Director for Program and Professional Development, Cornell University Cooperative Extension

"The Opening Doors Program was selected as a model for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) due in great part to how well it addresses the construct of oppression theory and the subsequent cycle of oppression. The training… serves to best address the long-term systemic change process. Personally, I have found no better tool to accomplish this level of understanding on these issues than Opening Doors."

Harvey Lineberry
Assistant Dean for Personnel, CALS, North Carolina State University

"Opening Doors changed the course of my life...I thought that I hadn't learned the behaviors and prejudices — I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and I thought that I was immune. After Opening Doors, I became really sensitive to innuendo, insidious behaviors, racism — IT WAS LIKE PULLING A BLINDFOLD OFF."

Michelle Sutherland
Mid-Hudson Migrant Education Outreach Program

"I also felt like I hadn't learned the isms and Opening Doors changed how I looked at the world. Betty's words about whether she challenged her daughter enough — asking herself 'Am I expecting enough of her?' — stays with me all the time in my adult ESL classes."

Eden Wadsworth
Oswego Migrant Education Outreach Program

"This workshop greatly expanded my understanding of how differences in race, gender, class, and age are reflected in personal, professional and institutional power relationships."

Jane Mt. Pleasant
Assistant Professor, Crop and Soil Science — Cornell 2000

"I feel that everything, including the simplest phrase contributed something to my life. A great experience to have felt like a family, since based on our emotions, feelings, and experiences we discovered that we all are great human beings. Once more, thank you for makig this dream, goal, and achievement possible for me, since I am convinced this is another step on the ladder of my life that I have reached. I leave happy for having received this gift, because I feel privileged."

Parent, April 2003
~translated from Spanish

"It is a personal journey. You learn a lot, and you get a lot out of it. The experience is worthwhile and everyone reacts differently. You will not be judged on how you feel or what you feel. It's okay to be happy, it's okay to be sad, angry; all of your feelings are okay. Whatever you say stays there. It is confidential and it is okay to be yourself."

Laura Ingalls
Parent Liaison

“I now know that my journey has begun and I would like to say that this has been the most inspiring and fulfilling training I have ever attended.  If I had to do it all over again, I would not hesitate for a moment.” 

Regina Suárez, Section 8 Caseworker, ROI, NY Division, 2003

“Opening Doors levels the playing field; it shows that we are all in this together.  It was challenging and it was non-threatening.  We all got to see our part in it, both the oppressed and the oppressor.”

Gail Horton, Coordinator, Suffolk Migrant Education
Outreach Project, 2008

“The most useful part was being given a framework and language to understand oppression, the communication and sharing with very engaged, committed and enthusiastic people … for 3 days.”

Anonymous Participant, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, 2009

"This was the most powerful and personally rewarding workshop I have ever attended."

Rochester Teacher 1991