Diversity
-
Interrupt Racism to Build Greater Equity
Simply mentioning the word ‘racism’ can create an instant human reaction with three familiar responses: freeze, fight, or flee. Observing those responses among those who have not had the opportunity to learn about racism and how to effectively dissolve it would be understandable. However, those who recognize racism and are trained to interrupt it can feel deeply impacted and defensive when they are called out for their racist by a person of color. They feel the all-too-familiar wrench in the gut. They’re devastated. I know. I’ve been there. Early on in my career, I had to face the truth about the impact of my racist actions and live with the…
-
Part 4: Infusing Diversity Into Everything We Do
“If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb Earlier in my career as a college administrator and an organizational consultant I used to teach a wide variety of courses on various interpersonal skills (leadership development, team building, communication skills, conflict management, customer service, stress management, time management, etc.) with little or no direct reference to the issues of inclusion and diversity. As I look back I am rather appalled since today I cannot imagine teaching these topics in corporations, human service agencies, or at colleges and universities without some attention to issues of diversity and inclusion. To be fair, the…
-
Part 3: Infusing Diversity and Inclusion Into Everything We Do
Most facilitators of courses and training sessions can infuse issues of diversity and inclusion to a far greater extent than they currently do. In my first two posts (below this post starting from the bottom) I explore ways to infuse diversity using the metaphor of creating a layer cake ~ starting with a solid foundation: Layer 1 Acknowledge the organization’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all members. “Do no harm.” Encourage participants to recognize the full breadth of differences in the organization and those they serve. Begin to explore their role and responsibility in creating an inclusive organization for all members. Layer 2 Use examples and images that…
