mlac diversity coalition year in review presented by joyce allen-beckford director andy garcia...
TRANSCRIPT
MLAC DIVERSITY COALITION Year in Review
Presented byJoyce Allen-Beckford Director
Andy Garcia Associated DirectorNovember, 2007
Diversity CoalitionLet’s Get REAL About Diversity
Workshop Summary
leverage
(your power to create change)
analyze(the subject)
engage(your heart and mind)
realize(the
challenge)
Region Day Date Time Location
Northeast Tuesday September 18 10:00 to 3:00 Lynn
Northeast Thursday September 20 1:00 to 5:00 Lowell
Southeast Tuesday September 25 10:00 to 3:00 Taunton
Southeast Wednesday September 26 1:00 to 5:00 Taunton
Central/West Tuesday October 2 10:00 to 3:00 Worcester
Central/West Friday October 5 10:00 to 3:00 Holyoke
Central/West Thursday October 11 10:00 to 3:00 Springfield
Eastern Thursday October 18 1:00 to 5:00 Framingham
Eastern Monday October 22 10:00 to 3:00 Boston
Eastern Wednesday October 24 1:00 to 5:00 Boston
Eastern Friday October 26 10:00 to 3:00 Boston
Schedule of TrainingsFall 2007
Workshop Participants• Total staff in Massachusetts Legal Services:
500 (estimate)• Total participants registered to attend trainings:
293*• Total participants in attendance at trainings:
254• Evaluations received:
241
*An unknown number was turned away when several trainings reached capacity.
Evaluations by Location
Lynn: 14 responses (6%)
Lowell: 24 responses (10%)
Taunton: 40 responses (17%)
Worcester: 30 responses (12%)
Holyoke:19 responses (8%)
Springfield: 15 responses (6%)
Framingham: 22 responses (9%)
Boston: 77 responses (32%)
How beneficial was the workshop?
1: Not beneficial: 0.4%
2: Somewhat beneficial: 4.4%
3: Beneficial: 23.3%
4: Very beneficial: 41.6%
5: Exceptional: 26.1%
Feedback on the Workshop
Suggestions for Improvement: • Workshop was too short to fully develop the issues, did not leave enough
time to amplify and resolve discussion topics. Many participants wanted to go more in depth.
• More discussion, smaller groups, more interactive conversation to allow attendees to engage one other.
• More targeted to legal services, clients, application to work with agencies and institutions.
• More conversation about problem before getting into solutions, define terms. • Would like a tighter focus, go beyond the “basics.”
Feedback on the Workshop
Strengths: • Eye-opening, personally involving and interactive.
• Provides a good foundation for continuing work.
• Very well-organized and well-planned.
• The hand-outs were well-written and thought out, with lots of information to spend more time with.
• Good to distinguish concepts like sex vs. gender, black vs. African American.
How effective was the facilitation?
1: Not effective: 0.4%
2: Somewhat effective: 3.7%
3: Effective:
13.9%
4: Very effective: 35.5%
5: Exceptional: 36.4%
Feedback on Facilitation
Suggestions for Improvement:
• A few participants felt there were “right” and “wrong” answers, that there was not enough acknowledgment of gray area; speakers sometimes seemed critical of participant opinions, made assumptions.
• Difficult to hear speaker/s (especially the acoustics at Boston 10/26 workshop).
Feedback on Facilitation
Strengths:
• Worked well together, good at engaging audience, especially through sharing of own experiences – set the tone.
• Made participants feel comfortable but also provoked thought about uncomfortable issues.
• Professional, knowledgeable, organized, kept things on track.
Impact of the “Let’s Get REAL” Diversity Workshop in Relation to Its Goals
Goal 1: Realize the challenge diversity presents in Mass. Legal Services and recognize the need to address issues of racism, classism, ageism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, anti-Semitism.
Impact:• Participants said they would be more mindful of where
people are coming from in terms of diverse backgrounds, more aware of what they say (language, words to use).
• Participants reported renewed energy to push diversity
issues, greater awareness of work to be done.
Impact of the “Let’s Get REAL” Diversity Workshop in Relation to Its Goals
Goal 2: Engage their hearts and intellects to develop a broader, more inclusive understanding of diversity through education and sharing of personal experiences.
Impact:• Participants said they would be more willing to listen to
others without judging, would assume good intentions. • Participants reported greater sensitivity, open-
mindedness to possibly unseen differences and their importance.
Impact of the “Let’s Get REAL” Diversity Workshop in Relation to Its Goals
Goal 3: Analyze their own understanding of how privilege, power, and oppression impact their lives, Mass. Legal Services and the clients they serve, and the world around them.
Impact:• Participants stated that they would be more careful
about making assumptions, recognize their own stereotypes/categorizations and the harmful impact of well intentioned statements.
• Participants reported greater understanding of the impact of their own privilege, realization that everyone experiences power and discrimination in some area.
Impact of the “Let’s Get REAL” Diversity Workshop in Relation to Its Goals
Goal 4: Learn to leverage their power to effect change. Impact: • Participants said they would know how to respond to
hurtful comments or intervene in harmful situations, speak up more, confront people who make derogatory comments.
• Participants said they would be more assertive, know
how to defend themselves while respecting others.
• Participants reported greater comfort discussing diversity issues, said they would try to be more culturally competent in work with clients, colleagues.