In 1993 the South Bend Community School Corporation's (SBCSC) Superintendent, Dr. Virginia Calvin, implemented a staff development plan called Valuing Diversity in Schools. The SBCSC's staff development plan, Valuing Diversity in Schools, was created in order to prepare SBCSC employees to effectively educate all students through the development of awareness, acceptance and affirmation of student diversity. The SBCSC executed a corporation-wide plan, representative of present and future diversity in the schools, which focused on diversity of faculty, students and community, through staff development, student and community forums and curriculum.

The staff development program provided six, one-half days of release time for faculty during which they would be involved in various diversity training activities. While staff was involved in training, students would also be released. Mary Pat Hatcher-Disler, one of the co-chairs of the Valuing Diversity in Schools Committee and SBCSC administrative staff, remembers that, "we asked ourselves, what can we do to keep the children occupied with something worthwhile during this time? So we decided to write letters to a diverse group of local organizations asking them to put together some programs that could be offered to the students during the release time."

One of the first reponses came from Dora Reynolds, Executive Director of the YWCA of St. Joseph County. She told Mary Pat Hatcher-Disler that the YWCA and the Girls Scouts were interested in providing programming for 100 girls. Ms. Hatcher-Disler recommended that she focus on both boys and girls. Ms. Hatcher-Disler suggested to Ms. Reynolds that, "it is those relationships that are often what cause domestic violence and violence on the streets. If you're just talking to the girls you don't have the other side of the story." Ms. Reynolds agreed and they decided to get their agency counterparts involved.

Through the combined efforts of socially responsible organizations, including the YWCA of St. Joseph County, YMCA of Michiana, Boy Scouts of America - LaSalle Council, Girl Scouts of Singing Sands Council, Inc., and the South Bend Community School Corporation, a diversity program for students was born.