Culture Boxes…
Emily Wood has been packing the world into boxes for more than 15 years. As the creator and current coordinator of the Culture Box Program, Wood has opened the box of cultural understanding to thousands of Tulsa’s children.
The boxes represent nearly 50 countries from Australia to Vietnam. Each box contains clothing, games, videos, books, toys, musical instruments and other artifacts from the country it represents.
The boxes are truly a community project. “Parents have brought back things from trips,” said Wood, “clothing, videos showing the history of a country, stuffed animals such as llamas from Peru. The Tulsa Global Alliance is a wonderful partner, and the Tulsa University business school gives me an intern to help.”
Wood said the boxes are coming and going every day, and usually more than one box is being borrowed. The Culture Boxes are free for use in all Tulsa Public Schools. In addition, the boxes are used by home school parents, churches, college cultural geography classes and international clubs, Dillon International Adoption Agency, Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts, and the library. There is a $15 fee for box rentals and boxes can be checked out for two weeks.
The artifacts are a high-interest, hands-on learning tool to supplement written materials about different cultures. Wood said the Culture Box Program helps foster multicultural understanding and an appreciation for diversity. It also encourages children to explore and appreciate their own cultural heritage.
For information about borrowing the boxes, or to contribute items or money to the Culture Box Program, email Emily Wood at woodem@tulsaschools.org
For additional information, call 918-746-9100 or visit www.tulsaglobalalliance.org/CultureBox.htm
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