Newstrack: Anti-discriminatory dolphin continues to educate, but not as much

Background

In 2011, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission debuted a mascot called Donald the Anti-Discriminatory Dolphin. Its purpose was to teach children about discrimination in a creative way that would be memorable.

LaSheila Yates, executive director of the commission, said Paul Nemeth, then an AmeriCorps VISTA member, was inspired by Franklin the Fair Housing Fox, a U.S. Housing and Urban and Development character. Yates said she was skeptical about the idea at first.

'I guess I didn't understand, but it caused me to think outside the box about how we could better relate civil rights to others,' she said.

Nemeth applied for a Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation grant to purchase the costume, and the department created a 30-minute skit to present at schools. According to the commission, the skit features Donald as a discriminatory landlord who denies potential tenants based on stereotypes.

But when a member of the Civil Rights Commission confronts him, saying he would feel like a fish out of water if he was a victim of discrimination, Donald gets upset, insisting he is not a fish but a mammal. After realizing the commission member made an assumption based on appearances, Donald realizes he was doing the same thing, and promises to stop discriminating.

After the skit, the commission member discusses diversity and inclusivity with students, and tells them what to do if they face discrimination.

Yates couldn't say what the initial cost was for the costume.

What's happened since

In the last couple years, Donald has had a bit of an identity change.

'It just depends if it's a male or female inside the costume,' said Janet Abejo, a senior investigator at the commission. If a woman is inside the costume, the dolphin is called Donna, 'so they could talk with a feminine voice,' Abejo said.

Most often it's a commission member or an intern wearing the costume.

The dolphin still goes to schools three or five times a year, Abejo said, but the school appearances have tapered off because the commission hasn't been advertising the service as much.

'Initially when we launched we reached out to schools, and the schools had us come out,' she said.

The dolphin instead is often featured at events such as the Arc March or Tanager's Summer Fest.

In the summer, the mascot's appearances are limited because it gets very hot inside the costume, Abejo said, so indoor events are preferred.

The dolphin next will be at the Cedar Rapids Public Library's end-of-summer celebration from 10 a.m. to noon, July 30, at Greene Square, Abejo said.

But most often the dolphin isn't actually present at events at all. Abejo said the commission turned the skit into a coloring book, which it hands out a lot at summer events.

'We were wanting to reach a lot of youth and their parents or guardians,' Abejo said.

The commission hands out goody bags containing the coloring book, brochures, bookmarks and magnets.

Anyone who wants to have Donna the Dolphin come to their event or school can email civilrights@cedar-rapids.org or call (319) 286-5036.