The Picardy Group offers innovative presentation approaches to integrating diversity and multiculturalism into educational campuses.

Whether through a business luncheon, a professional conference, school assembly, special program, Martin Luther King holiday, Black History Month event, graduation, etc., The Picardy Group offers a wide array of thought-provoking presentations and substantive workshops designed to promote multiculturalism and diversity, while inspiring both pride and understanding. The Picardy Group's signature presentations tackle a plethora of socio-economic subjects that have affected and continue to impact our society. For all institutions, we offer a unique perspective within our ever-evolving global world. For students, we provide wonderful, engaging, in-depth history experiences.  We also provide graduation speeches that are inspiring, commanding, and designed to celebrate and highlight the achievement that should accompany a graduation. Please review the list of our signature presentations below. We are available to provide our services at various times throughout the year and in locations throughout the United States and abroad. 

The Picardy Group provides audiences with forward-thinking, thought-provoking presentations that encourage acceptance, understanding, and reflection. We are told routinely that our presentations inspire great conversation and leave a positive, lasting impression.

STANDARD PRESENTATION MENU

  • One Country, Two Nations (Are There Really Two Americas? A Critical Look at Events that have Separated Us) For many blacks, being black and being "American"  are at times warring ideas. The perspectives and realities of and about the United States can be vastly different depending on one's race. We have seen this with the OJ Simpson verdict, the Rodney King verdict, 9/11, the Obama candidacy and presidency, and a myriad of other events that establish our differing social norms and thus our conflicting opinions on race. Until we understand why these very real differences exist, this social variance will persist, making acceptance and ultimately advancement much more difficult. This presentation explores these social realities and challenges our society's behavior on these matters. 

  • The Civil Rights Movement, Unplugged This presentation provides a very unique look at "America's Third Revolution." Was the movement really a non-violent one? Or, did the movement depend on violence? Who were the real black militants and who weren't? What was the Government's role? Hear the rich, fantastic, but less-celebrated stories and facts behind the movement. This presentation takes the audience through an exploration of the lesser-known stories to extract the true meaning and implications of the racial landscape of the United States then and now.

  • The African-American Legal Experience (1954- 2000s, Civil Rights Advancements In Retrenchment???) The storied American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s is full of popular events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Riders, and the March on Washington. And while these events are remarkable, the social and legal advancements achieved in the 1950s began to unravel in the late 1960s and 1970s - setting the stage for great hardship. How and why did this occur? Do these setbacks continue to adversely impact civil rights and civil liberties today? 

  • The African-American Legal Experience (1896-1954, Attacking Separate but Equal Head On) 2011 marked the 55th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown vs. Board of Education, which struck down the "Separate but Equal" doctrine. But what are the critical events that precipitated the Brown case? What advancements and setbacks did African-Americans experience during this pivotal period? How did the NAACP set the stage for the 1953-1954 Brown showdown that changed the course of history for American blacks? This presentation covers the Supreme Court cases that involved education, housing, voting, and citizenship rights that shaped the legal strategy to attack the infamous Plessy decision establishing "Separate But Equal." 

  • The African-American Legal Experience (1640-1896, Pre-Colonial Times to Jim Crow)  Well before the Declaration of Independence was signed, blacks in the American colonies enjoyed many of the same rights and privileges that whites did- including owning property, serving on juries, and even testifying against white citizens. Ever wonder exactly when and how the laws of the land began to shift? How did blacks go from neighbors to slaves? From pre-colonial times, to the Dred Scot decision, to the Plessy case establishing the "Separate but Equal" doctrine, this presentation takes a comprehensive ride through the the country's legal history and explores how the courts and legislative bodies encouraged and endorsed the enslavement and discrimination of blacks. 

  •  Reconstruction Era to the Elimination of Separate But Equal, Defining the Black American Citizen Post-Civil War to the 1950s. Ever wonder what the transition was like for slaves to go from being in a state of bondage to acquiring citizenship? How were the new "freedmen" treated as citizens?  How did the election of 1876 compromise the rights and treatment of blacks? How did former slaves go from winning seats in the U.S. Congress to being denied seats at local businesses? What does the Plessy decision tell us, and what Plessy lesson continues to go unrealized? 

  • Our Presidents' Report Cards on Race What was Thomas Jefferson's position on race? Did Abraham Lincoln really free the slaves? Did Richard Nixon favor Affirmative Action? Did Woodrow Wilson promote racism? Was Franklin Delano Roosevelt nearly as progressive as his wife, Eleanor? Hear the documented and indisputable truth about Lincoln and all of the other presidents on the issue of slavery, civil rights, and race in general. This presentation reports the successes and failures of the United States' executives on the issue of race. From Washington to Obama, hear the how these presidents' administrations fared on policies involving race. This presentation promises to be an eye-opener! Learn these historical facts and how they have shaped history. 

  • How and Why Stereotypes Live- Racializing Crime, Poverty, Immigration, Education, and Sex This may be the most explosive of all the presentations because it offers a blunt and honest discussion about one of the most touchy subjects in our society....racial stereotypes. With a friendly approach and comical hypotheticals, this presentation takes a hard and honest look at common stereotypes and why they persist. The objective of this discussion is to dissect stereotypes and the myths behind them in a light-hearted fashion to ensure that audiences will remain engaged. 

  • Thurgood Marshall, Social Engineer For the Ages Perfect for Black History Month or for audiences interested in learning about the greatest legal mind in American history. Hear about Thurgood Marshall's journey from being a mischievous school kid to the lawyer who argued and defeated segregation in the public schools. Thurgood Marshall fought the laws that perpetuated discrimination not only as a practicing attorney, but as U.S. Solicitor General, and Supreme Court Justice too. Not only will this presentation will look deeply at Marshall's incredible legacy, but it also will cover how the achievements and successes that he gained came under attack in subsequent years. Finally, the presentation will briefly explore the justice's Supreme Court legacy versus his successor's (Justice Clarence Thomas) promise, and what it means- then and now. 

  • What the Textbooks Continue to Omit About African-American History & Contributions Unless you frequent a well-stocked museum, or perhaps have recently taken a college-level history course, you will not likely hear about the tremendous contributions that blacks have made to the world. Hear about ancient black civilizations, black influence of Greek and Roman civilizations, Mitochondrial Eve, the Black Diaspora, and many other facts that the history textbooks traditionally omit. Arm yourself with new stories about old history. Don't wait or hope by chance that these topics will be covered on your next museum visit. This presentation brings a wealth of unknown knowledge directly to the audience! 

  • Black History Trivia Who was the first slave by law? What contemporary celebrity is related to that slave? When did northern states abolish slavery? When did Boston integrate its public schools? Who was the first African-American Nobel Peace Prize winner? Who was the first African American to perform at the White House and when? Who was the first African-American to serve as governor of a state and when? This is wonderful presentation that focuses on facts, anecdotes, and stories that are unknown by most. It encompasses the best Black history offered anywhere. The information presented is sure to pique the interest of any audience.

  • A Comparison of the Greatest Moments in African-American History According to Baby Boomers, Generation X'ers, Y'ers, and Z'ers As the years pass and our social society evolves, significant historical events sometimes take on different meanings to different generations. As an example, the election of Barack Obama likely meant something different to an 18 year-old versus a 65 year-old. This presentation covers some of the greatest events in African-American history, but with a spin. The presentation examines what respondents identify as significant events broken down by what generation they belong to, thus allowing the audience to see the differences and explore their implications. And what do the results mean? With respects to how significant African-American historical events are viewed, is there a generational gap, a shift, neither, or both?

*The presentations above also make fantastic Black History Month presentation topics! 

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY PRESENTATIONS

Martin Luther King's birthday (January 15th) is a national holiday. We proudly offer several fantastic presentations to observe and commemorate the day. Here is a list of our King Holiday presentation topics:

  • Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights Movement - The Planning, Sacrifices, and How A Non-Violent Movement Indirectly Benefitted from Violence This presentation looks at the blueprint of the Civil Rights Movement in a very rich way. With an unfamiliar lens, the audience is given a new and interesting perspective and asked to consider why it was so successful. Also, we have seen in recent years how technology impacts social movements (eg., Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, etc). Was the same true regarding America's Third Revolution? Hear what was happening behind the scenes of the movement and how timing played such an important part.

  • The Lost Parts of Dr. King's Political Message  The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King is well established. But does the legacy encompass King's belief in being righteous? This presentation examines Dr. King's work, including some of his speeches, his position on housing, affirmative action, and labor. These positions are rarely represented when King's legacy is recounted. Are we doing his legacy a disservice? Are we doing ourselves a disservice? What would Martin say about some of the pressing issues of today?

  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Black Leader, Politician, Pastor, Patriot, or All of the Above? Was Dr. Martin Luther King, in a de facto sense, all of these things? A noted scholar recently declared that in the United States, real religion is race. Has this always been the case, and if so, how did Reverend King embody this precept? Leader, politician, pastor, patriot: which describes him best? This presentation explores if Dr. King truly wore all of these hats and in what ways he wore them. Moreover, could King have had the same success today in the same way?

  • Was Martin Luther King More Radical Than He is Generally Perceived to Have Been? Most Americans will agree that the Civil Rights Movement was a non-violent movement that included events of peaceful protest such as sit-ins, the Montgomery bus-boycott, marches, and various acts of civil disobedience. But why did King and other civil rights leaders of the time choose this approach at a time when racial segregation was the law and racial animosity was most virulent? Was this approach radical in and of itself? 

STANDARD PICARDY GROUP FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATIONS MENU:

  • Understanding Culture and Cultural Differences on Your School Campus

  • Managing Issues Involving Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

  • Diversity Today- A Focus on Ethnic and Cultural Diversity

  • Independent School Diversity 101: Discussing Social Affairs, Social Justice, and other Not-so-Easy Subjects

  • Building, Maintaining, and Honoring Community on Your School Campus

  • Creating Safe and Inclusive Environments for All Students

  • Why is Diversity Critical to Your School? 

  • Recognizing and Mitigating Conflicts Amongst Students

  • Earning the Trust & Providing Support to Students of Color