This case study focused on the effects of collaborative activities between two teachers and their students. The authors explored the effectiveness of distance learning for adolescents in promoting self-esteem, achievement, and multicultural understanding. In Cultural Connections, diverse students across Texas collaborated on multicultural activities, which helped them grow in self-esteem, achievement, and multicultural understanding. Student participants were 14 randomly placed eighth-grade students and ten gifted and talented fifth-grade students. This project demonstrated that, in networked classrooms, students can connect with distant others to learn about their perspectives and increase their multicultural understandings. Four overarching themes emerged from the data: growth, empowerment, comfort with technology, and mentorship. In addition, distance technologies can foster team teaching across cultures and geographical distances. Technology used included interactive compressed video systems, HyperStudio software, Internet connections, CU-SeeMe software, and FirstClass computer conferencing software. (Author/DLS)