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Presentations
- Thought provoking diversity topics that last for one to two hours.
::Business
Case::
It is important to focus on diversity in today's market. In order
to avoid obsolescence, institutions need to offer comprehensive
diversity programs. Diversity is great for recruitment and profit.
Organizations that are rated by business analysts as top companies
to work for by women and people of color are also increasing their
bottom lines. In this presentation, companies have the opportunity
to determine the value of diversity within their organization.
::Diagnosing Your Organization::
Prior to hiring consultants or implementing diversity programs,
organizations should assess their goals, human capital and practices.
Some organizations are initiating diversity discussions. Other organizations
have well developed Affirmative Action policies that have led them
to a new level of conversation on how to retain the diverse staff
they have recruited. Other organizations are seeing an influx of
cultures that had not existed in their corporate culture in past
years. This session helps organizations identify their stage of
organizational development from a diversity perspective. Once the
stage is identified, participants are prepared to select appropriate
diversity initiatives.
::Defining Diversity::
There are many opinions regarding the definition of diversity. In
today's workforce, it is important to focus on each element of diversity
that employees represent. Participants in this session determine
the elements of diversity that relate to them. They also determine
the elements that are present or missing in their organizations.
::Managing Diversity::
Globalization and demographic shifts have changed the culture of
business. This session focuses on recognizing the entire talent
pool. How can an organization make sure that it maximizes its human
capital? How can an organization create an organizational culture
that uses differences and similarities among its staff to increase
its bottom line.
::Generations::
A fascinating phenomenon is occurring in our society -- a changing
of the guards of sorts. We are seeing the last of a great generation,
the exodus of another, a call to arms of a third and entry of a
fourth. Four generations are struggling for power. The Traditionalists,
the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and the Millennials, sometimes known
as Generation Y, are as distinct as their names. They differ in
terms of values, expectations, attitudes and life experiences. These
differences shape expectations in the marketplace and the workplace.
This presentation will examine the characteristics, influences,
attitudes and expectations of each generation. Participants will
briefly discuss areas where the generations intersect and divide.
The presentation will conclude with a discussion of how we might
bridge the gap between the generations for a more cohesive workplace.
::Global
Literacy At Home::
With the onslaught of the growth and interdependence of the world
economy, we must examine how we use our knowledge and training.
It is important that all of us, not just the "experts"
consider a global outlook. Authors Robert Rose and Patricia Digh
suggest that knowledge of other cultures is necessary for everyone.
They state, "To be successful in today's society, people in
every profession should be 'globally literate.'" In the new,
borderless economy, culture doesn't matter less, it matters more.
Global literacy involves the personal, social, business and cultural
realms. It is the responsibility of all of us to learn more and
to be open to others.
::Negotiating
Cultural Identity::
Renowned psychologist William Cross uses the terms bridging and
buffering to describe how cultural identity is applied to daily
life. These concepts are imperative to survival of cultures or individuals
who have migrated into cultures different from their own. To navigate
and exist within the outside community, a person must learn to bridge
or to communicate with the dominant society. However, it is also
necessary to create a buffer between the dominant society and one's
own culture for emotional and psychological stability. This is manifested
in activities in which the migrant practices values, traditions
and cultural activities with which s/he is accustomed. Migrants
are often seen as sellouts when bridging and isolationists when
buffering. However, it is important for them to practice both for
survival.
::Institutions
and Diversity: Overview and Models::
This session is an introduction to diversity development models.
It explores how diversity has been applied to organizational development
by examining points of conversion between models developed by leading
scholars. The session concludes by helping institutions hypothesize
their stage of development in order to direct their diversity initiatives.
Workshops
- One to three day seminars
::Developing
Identity Across Cultures::
To explore how identity is negotiated when a person is exposed to
more than one culture for an extended period of time. Globalization,
transnationalism and migration have influenced the concept of home,
roots and family in the most profound ways, particularly in relation
to identity.
Key Objectives
- Assist
military dependents in adjusting to new surroundings
- Assist
individuals, especially military dependents, in establishing a
positive identity and self-concept
- Prepare
military dependents for surviving and adapting to civilians and
the world outside of the military.
Background
Globalization, transnationalism and migration have influenced the
concept of home, roots and family in the most profound ways, particularly
in relation to identity. These phenomena have created a special
set of circumstances, in which this process of developing a cultural
identity must be expanded to incorporate two or more cultures. It
is a process that can have great benefits, but also create a since
of loss and disenfranchisement on the part of the individual whose
identity is defined from more than one worldview.
According to J. Bennett,
Immigration, sojourns, marriage, adoption, birth and global nomadism
lead to a frame of reference from more than one culture. Long-term
adult sojourners such as missionaries, educators, anthropologists,
students, international business persons, or volunteers, do not
detach from their past experiences. They continue to carry the perspectives
gained through other cultural experiences. People traditionally
labeled "minority" often internalize two cultures, their
own and the dominate culture, in order to function effectively in
both (110).
All of these groups have lived abroad or among one or more cultures
that are not considered their main, dominant, ancestral, or home
cultures. For many of them, "home" is an imaginary concept.
"Home" is considered only a place where their parents
or ancestors lived.
Barbara Schaetti and Sheila Ramsey describe this phenomenon from
the perspective of families, who have been transferred abroad for
work purposes, "The experience of moving, living, and working
abroad changes a person and causes values and identities to be questioned
and defined." In the next section, it is important to explore
identity development from the mono- and multicultural perspectives
to understand what makes the process of transitioning from one culture
to the next so difficult?
Presenter
Bettina Byrd-Giles is the daughter of Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel
Roscoe Byrd. She was born at Camp Zama, Japan and lived with her
parents on various posts around the country and finally Hamilton
Air Force Base in Northern California. When her family moved back
"home" to Alabama and once she went to the University
of Virginia for undergraduate studies, she found that her life as
a military brat was a unique experience that prepared her for many
things. However, she found that she related better to other military
brats, Foreign Service "kids," missionary "kids"
or "kids" whose parents worked for multinational corporations.
Her graduate studies became a quest for answers in the developmental
process of children who grew up in situations where they lived in
many different places and around many different people. Her work
as an intercultural educator is directly related to her formative
years as a military dependent.
Programs
- Diversity Training series that last from 6 weeks up to one year
::Diversity
Awareness Seminar::
Description/Mission
This workshop series is designed to aid participants in expanding
their perspectives about diversity by providing information and
facilitating experiences across cultures.
Audience
The series can be tailored for professionals or university students.
Key
Objectives
- Encourage
interaction among participants
- Foster
intercultural communication and understanding within the local
community
- Initiate
dialogue, discussion, and implementation of programs which address
issues of diversity and positively impact the community
- Create
socially aware and responsible citizen leaders willing to contribute
to and interact with the local community
Background
It is imperative that local institutions recognize diversity awareness
and appreciation as critical building blocks to individual institutional
and civic well-being. Through this diversity awareness seminar,
participants from different organizations must pool resources and
work towards a unified goal of improving the local community. This
awareness series fulfills this basic need by establishing a vital
link between our leaders of tomorrow and our community of today.
The
community and world in which we live continues to grow and change
at a rapid pace. The homogenous population of yesteryear is quickly
being replaced with a much more heterogeneous demographic on several
levels including race, ethnicity, age and socioeconomic status.
Consider only a few statistics1:
- Almost
85% of all new jobs in the workforce belong to women, minorities,
and /or immigrants
- The
Hispanic population has increased by 40% in the last 10 years
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In the near future, 67% of all new workers will be women
- In
recent years, minorities have made notable economic gains with
Asians having the highest income per household, and 1 out of every
8 African-Americans being economically affluent
1 All statistics were taken from Managing a Changing Workforce
(1996) by Robert Losyk
We are also beginning to realize and appreciate our interdependence,
both individually and collectively. As this dynamic new community
takes shape, the urgency of preparing citizens to confront the
ensuing challenges of the 21st Century cannot be understated.
Strategies/Methods
- Introduce
a broad spectrum of diversity
- Explore,
thoroughly, current issues of diversity
- Expose
truths while examining the origins of misunderstandings and myths
surrounding different groups
- Encourage
interaction with community leaders and organizations across cultures
- Provide
realistic, effective, non-confrontational approaches to addressing
prejudice and bigotry in group settings
Curriculum
This multi-faceted curriculum initially places an emphasis on self-awareness,
realizing that this is indispensable to effective interaction. Monthly
meetings focus on more specific issues and elements of cultural
understanding and appreciation. The curriculum incorporates real
world events offered by the local community. Simulations will supplement
the curriculum when necessary.
A successful curriculum relies heavily on the wealth of personal
experience brought to the table by participants. This is the best
way to assure the relevance and practical application of knowledge
in this forum. Participants will pursue independent study projects
tailored to their particular interests in intercultural education.
However, the curriculum seeks to strike a balance between individual
autonomy and group interaction.
Courses
- Graduate and undergraduate cross-cultural courses
Graduate
::TEACHING
IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY::
Course Description
This course is an examination of the dimensions of multicultural
education. Major areas of emphasis include history, definition and
evolution of multicultural education; study of norms, values and
communication styles across cultures. Attitudes, beliefs, stereotypes
and how they affect teaching and learning will also be included.
An overview of different world views, socioeconomic backgrounds,
and genders across cultures are major areas of focus. Topics may
be added or omitted at the discretion of the instructor.
Course Goals
The purpose of this course will be to challenge teachers to increase
awareness of their own beliefs, traditions, norms, values and biases
in order to include all students in the educational process.
Course
Objectives
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
- identify
the dimensions of multicultural education
- reflect
on their own ethnic makeup
- recognize
norms, values, and traditions of different cultures
- examine
the impact of biases, stereotypes, and attitudes
Instruction
Methods
A wide variety of teaching methods will be included in this course.
The course is highly interactive and highly dependent upon class
participation. Individual and group activities are strongly emphasized.
Lectures, videos and guest presentations will support the required
reading material.
Course
Syllabus
Undergraduate
::INTRODUCTION
TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES::
Course Description
This course is an introduction to African American Studies. This
course will survey various aspects of African American life including
history, culture, politics, sociology, psychology and economics.
The course outline is a guide. Sometimes dates and assignments must
be moved around.
Course
Syllabus
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