MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATION

PUBLIC OUTREACH - MATTHEW'S LEGACY IS HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH MULTIPLE ARTISTIC WORKS INSPIRED BY HIS STORY, INCLUDING "THE LARAMIE PROJECT", "CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD AND "MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE". MSF HELPS TO SUPPORT THE NUMEROUS PERFORMANCES AND PRODUCTIONS AROUND THE WORLD BY OFFERING 2 CARDS & LETTERS LOBBY EXHIBIT OPTIONS, A POSTER OF THE ICONOGRAPHY ARTWORK OF MATT HOUSED AT THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AS WELL AS SUPPLYING OUR PURPLE "ERASE HATE" WRISTBANDS FOR THE CAST, SINGERS AND CREW. BEYOND PROVIDING THE ABOVE RESOURCES, WE SHARE DIGITIZED RESOURCES OF PHOTOS, NEWS ARTICLES, HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.RESOURCE PACKAGE COUNT: 58AREAS SERVED: WASHINGTON DC, WISCONSIN, COLORADO, IOWA, NEWJERSEY, RHODE ISLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, MAINE, FLORIDA, VIRGINIA, NEWYORK, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, CALIFORNIA, OREGON, WASHINGTON,MARYLAND, INDIANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEVADA,ILLINOIS, GEORGIA, TEXAS, WEST VIRGINIA, MICHIGAN, TASMANIA (AUS),NOVA SCOTIA (CAN), ONTARIO (CAN), ALBERTA (CAN), NEW ZEALANDAS PART OF OUR LEGACY WORKS RESOURCE PACKAGES, WE OFFER SCHOOLS, THEATERS AND CHOIRS THE ABILITY TO HAVE CAST/CHOIR CHATS WITH DENNIS SHEPARD. HE ALSO DOES TALK-BACKS AFTER PERFORMANCES WITH THE AUDIENCE. AT TIMES, JUDY SHEPARD IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO JOIN. THIS RESOURCE IS AN EXCLUSIVE OFFERING FROM MSF AND GIVES BOTH THOSE INVOLVED IN PRODUCTIONS AND PERFORMANCES, AS WELL AS THE AUDIENCE, A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE AND STORY THAT ONLY THE SHEPARDS CAN PROVIDE ABOUT MATT'S LIFE AND LEGACY. BY GETTING THIS PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE, ALL THOSE INVOLVED ARE BETTER ABLE TO APPRECIATE THE WORKS AND TO CARRY THE MESSAGE OF MATT'S LEGACY AND ERASING HATE INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND LIVES.DURING THIS PERIOD, MSF PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING:THE LARAMIE PROJECT CAST CHATS: 26AREAS SERVED: ARIZONA, NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, FLORIDA, NEVADA, NEW JERSEY,CALIFORNIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, IOWA,COLORADO, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ONTARIO (CAN), SINGAPORE, TASMANIA (AUS)THE LARAMIE PROJECT AUDIENCE TALK-BACKS: 7AREAS SERVED: NEVADA, CALIFORNIA, PENNSYLVANIA, IOWA, NEW JERSEYCONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD CHOIR CHAT: 5AREAS SERVED: NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, VIRGINIA, TEXAS, PENNSYLVANIACONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD AUDIENCE TALK-BACKS: 3AREAS SERVED: TEXAS, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORKPUBLIC OUTREACH SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS -JUDY AND DENNIS SHEPARD WERE INVOLVED IN 14 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND EVENTS SHARING MATT'S STORY IN AN EFFORT TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS. PRESENTATIONS RANGED IN TOPIC, BUT FOCUSED ON MATT'S LEGACY AND MESSAGES OF BELONGING, EQUITY AND ERASING HATE, LGBTQ+ RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY, AND HATE CRIME PREVENTION. THESE PRESENTATIONS WERE DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PRIDE EVENTS AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.AREAS SERVED: PENNSYLVANIA, FLORIDA, TEXAS, NEW YORK, MINNESOTA, WYOMING, WASHINGTON DC,MASSACHUSETTS, WASHINGTON, VIRGINIA, CALIFORNIA, ALABAMAPUBLIC OUTREACH HATE CRIME PREVENTION TRAINING -MSF PARTNERS WITH OUT TO PROTECT, A NATIONAL LEADER IN HATE CRIME PREVENTION TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. DURING THIS REPORT PERIOD, MSF PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE FOLLOWING COURSES:HATE CRIME PREVENTION SCHOLARSHIPS 84LGBT LIAISON TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS 57LGBT LIAISON IN-PERSON ACADEMY WEEKEND 15PUBLIC OUTREACH ERASE HATE AND LARAMIE PROJECT CURRICULUM -MSF FINALIZED 2 CURRICULUM THAT WILL BE OFFERED AT NO COST TO SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.THE LARAMIE PROJECT CURRICULUM IS A 9-WEEK COURSE STUDY, BROKEN UP INTO 3 UNITS, FOR GRADES 8-12. THIS CURRICULUM CONSISTS OF LESSON PLANS, HANDOUTS, AND SLIDES TO BE USED FOR LEARNING BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER READING THE LARAMIE PROJECT.THE ERASE HATE CURRICULUM CONSISTS OF 4 UNITS, ALL 9 WEEKS IN LENGTH. THIS CURRICULUM IS FOR GRADES 8-12. THE ERASE HATE CURRICULUM TEACHES ABOUT MATTS LEGACY AND WILL TEACH YOUTH HOW TO TAKE ACTION AND ERASE HATE.THE LARAMIE PROJECT CURRICULUM WAS DISTRIBUTED TO 7 SCHOOLS AND 5 THEATRES DURING THIS PERIOD.