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Iowa-based Inclusive Cultural University works to empower communities through the value of respect

Iowa-based Inclusive Cultural University works to empower communities through the value of respect
US INSIDE THE INCLUSIVE CULTURAL UNIVERSITY. THE FOUNDER OF INCLUSIVE CULTURE UNIVERSITY CALLS HIS ORGANIZATION A VEHICLE DRIVING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, STARTING WITH THEIR WORK IN SCHOOLS, CORPORATIONS, CARNES AND, OF COURSE, LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS ACROSS IOWA. DO YOU SEE ME? I SEE YOU. EXCELLENT. IN FRONT OF A ROOM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS, FATHER SON DUO ADEL AND JONELLE MARION ARE LEAVING THEIR MARK. IT’S CLEAR THAT IT’S A NEED FOR CHANGE, WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THEIR COMPANY. INCLUSIVE CULTURE UNIVERSITY, ALSO KNOWN AS ICU. THE MISSION IS TO EMPOWER EACH PERSON WITH A CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE PART THEY PLAY TO PROMOTE AN INCLUSIVE, SAFE AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. IN ITS SEVEN YEARS, ICU CONTINUES TO TAKE FOUNDER JONELLE MARION AND HIS FATHER ADEL, TO A NUMBER OF PLACES LIKE THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND OFTEN TIMES SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT’S WALK THE HALLWAYS, BUT ALSO GOING TO A LUNCHROOMS AND SEE WHAT THEY’RE REALLY ABOUT. AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A TANGIBLE PERSON THAT IS WANTING TO PRETTY MUCH CONNECT WITH THEM, BUILD WITH THEM, UNDERSTAND THEM. BUT A KEY PARTNERSHIP, ICU DEVELOPS IS WITH IOWA POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND SHERIFF’S OFFICES. EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS NEED TO BE RETRAINED OR NEED TO BE DEFUNDED. THEY RESENT THAT. SO WE PACKAGED IT WITH WE CREATE AN ORIENTATION, AND THEN WE DO A WORKSHOP, A WORKSHOP THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS POLICE CHIEFS, OFFICERS, DEPUTIES ACTIVELY TAKING PART IN DISCUSSIONS WHEN PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO INTERACT, THEN THEY ARE ACTIVE AND THEY FEEL THAT YOU GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO VALUE THEIR OPINIONS. MARSHALLTOWN CHIEF MICHAEL TUPPER IS A MAJOR SUPPORTER OF ICU. IT HAS REMINDED THEM OF THE IMPORTANCE OF JUST TREATING PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. IT’S A PARTNERSHIP GOING FOR SIX YEARS NOW THAT INVOLVES MORE THAN JUST TRADITIONAL WORKSHOP SETTING. DALE AND JOHN HAVE BOTH COME IN AND DONE SOME RIDE ALONGS. YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET THE PERSPECTIVE OF OF WHAT THEY DEAL WITH, HOW THEY INTERACT WITH CITIZENS AND AND THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SOMETIMES THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT COME WITH THE WITH THE JOB. THIS IS ABOUT MOVING THE NEEDLE. JONELLE SAYS THE END GOAL IS FOR PEOPLE TO OPERATE WITH RESPECT THROUGHOUT SOCIETY. THAT’S WHY HE AND HIS FATHER CONTINUED TO DO WHAT THEY DO. THAT AND FOR JANELLE’S SONS, THEY DIDN’T ASK TO BE BORN INTO THIS WORLD. AND I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS THEIR EARTHLY FATHER TO GUIDE, GUARD AND GOVERN THEM. THAT’S DEFINITELY A MOTIVATION WHEN IT COMES TO THEM AND THEIR PEERS IN MARSHALLTOWN, KAY
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Iowa-based Inclusive Cultural University works to empower communities through the value of respect
In front of a room of law enforcement members on Monday, father-son duo Del and Jonnell Marion are leaving their mark. They're working to make a difference through their company, Inclusive Cultural University. "The mission is to empower each person with a consciousness of the part they play to promote an inclusive, safe, and equitable society," ICU founder Jonnell Marion said.In its seventh year, ICU continues to take Jonnell Marion and his father, Del Marion, to a number of places, including the governor's office, companies and schools across Iowa. "We do certain things, whether it's walking hallways, but also going to lunch rooms and see what they're really about," Jonnell Marion said. "They have an opportunity to see a tangible person that is going to pretty much connect with them, build with them, understand them."However, a key partnership ICU develops is with Iowa police departments and sheriff’s offices.Right now, ICU partners with more than 20 law enforcement agencies. "Everyone keeps saying that law enforcement officers need to be retrained or they need to be defunded," Del Marion said. "They resent that. So we packaged it and we create an orientation and then we do a workshop."The workshop involves police chiefs, officers, deputies and more actively taking part in discussions and exercises."When people get a chance to interact, then they are active and they feel that you give them the opportunity to value opinions," Del Marion said.ICU has partnered with the Marshalltown Police Department for the last six years. It's a partnership Chief Michael Tupper tells KCCI has been very impactful for him and his officers. "It has reminded them of the importance of just treating people with dignity and respect," Tupper said. Tupper tells KCCI the partnership involves a lot of things, including Del and Jonnell Marion going on ride-a-longs. "You get an opportunity to really get the perspective of what they deal with, how they interact with citizens, and the highlights and sometimes the frustrations that come with the job," Jonnell Marion said.Jonnell Marion says the end goal is for people to operate with respect throughout society. That's why Jonnell Marion and his father do what they do and, Jonnell Marion says, for his sons, who he refers to as his "supervisors.""They didn’t ask to be born into this world and I have a responsibility as their earthly father to guide, guard, and govern them," Jonnell Marion said. "That’s definitely a motivation when it comes to them and their peers."

In front of a room of law enforcement members on Monday, father-son duo Del and Jonnell Marion are leaving their mark. They're working to make a difference through their company, Inclusive Cultural University.

"The mission is to empower each person with a consciousness of the part they play to promote an inclusive, safe, and equitable society," ICU founder Jonnell Marion said.

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In its seventh year, ICU continues to take Jonnell Marion and his father, Del Marion, to a number of places, including the governor's office, companies and schools across Iowa.

"We do certain things, whether it's walking hallways, but also going to lunch rooms and see what they're really about," Jonnell Marion said. "They have an opportunity to see a tangible person that is going to pretty much connect with them, build with them, understand them."

However, a key partnership ICU develops is with Iowa police departments and sheriff’s offices.

Right now, ICU partners with more than 20 law enforcement agencies.

"Everyone keeps saying that law enforcement officers need to be retrained or they need to be defunded," Del Marion said. "They resent that. So we packaged it and we create an orientation and then we do a workshop."

The workshop involves police chiefs, officers, deputies and more actively taking part in discussions and exercises.

"When people get a chance to interact, then they are active and they feel that you give them the opportunity to value opinions," Del Marion said.

ICU has partnered with the Marshalltown Police Department for the last six years.

It's a partnership Chief Michael Tupper tells KCCI has been very impactful for him and his officers.

"It has reminded them of the importance of just treating people with dignity and respect," Tupper said.

Tupper tells KCCI the partnership involves a lot of things, including Del and Jonnell Marion going on ride-a-longs.

"You get an opportunity to really get the perspective of what they deal with, how they interact with citizens, and the highlights and sometimes the frustrations that come with the job," Jonnell Marion said.

Jonnell Marion says the end goal is for people to operate with respect throughout society.

That's why Jonnell Marion and his father do what they do and, Jonnell Marion says, for his sons, who he refers to as his "supervisors."

"They didn’t ask to be born into this world and I have a responsibility as their earthly father to guide, guard, and govern them," Jonnell Marion said. "That’s definitely a motivation when it comes to them and their peers."