uua.org intercultural skills for a diverse world
TRANSCRIPT
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Intercultural Skills for a
Diverse World Rev. Evin Carvill-Ziemer, UUA Congregational Life
Rev. Rob Keithan, Adjunct Staff, Central East Region
Rev. Jonipher Kwong, UUA Congregational Life
Rev. Renee Ruchotzke, UUA Congregational Life
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Assumptions
• There are various approaches to
this type of work
• We are presenting one model as
our fundamental framework:
Developmental Model of
Intercultural Sensitivity
• Everyone is at different stages of
development
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Assumptions
• Everyone “has culture.” We are
culture beings. There is no one norm.
• One cannot tell by looking at someone
one, what is their racial, cultural,
ethnic, or gender identity
• We are all adults who are able to take
care of our own needs
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Theological Grounding in UU Values
Foundational Principle: Oneness
Unitarian
Universalism
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Engaging Diversity Means
• Learning to recognize the differences that make a difference.
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Our UU Theological Challenge
FINDING WAYS to
1. Affirm the common humanity and value of every person
WHILE ALSO
2. Recognizing the differences that make a difference
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Introductions
• Who are we?
• How did we get here?
• Who are you?
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Traditional Approaches
To Intercultural Competency (Diversity) Work
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Teaching non-dominant groups how to
behave in the dominant culture.
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Learning other cultures’
holidays, food, dances
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Training on Legal Requirements
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Systemic analysis of oppression
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Assumptions of the Intercultural Approach
• Developmental
• Capacity to experience
commonalities and differences with
increasing complexity
• Capacity to shift behavior and
mindset based on the the cultural
context.
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Assumptions of the Intercultural Approach
• Difference based, process
based, face to face interactive,
and holistic
• Can still be used to address
imbalances of power
• There is so much to talk about
in this approach –
communication styles, conflict
styles, institutional change…
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Where we
often think we
are…
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…when
we usually
are here
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To Be More Interculturally Competent,
We Learn to Work Across Difference
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Communication
Is the creation of shared
meaning
Intercultural Communication
Is the creation of
shared meaning
across cultural
contexts
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Every Conversation is an
Intercultural Conversation.
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Diversity is…
The fact of human difference, that
may make a difference – in how we
interact…with one another, with
communities, institutions, and with
ourselves.
Nehrwr Abdul-Wahid
What are some of the “differences that may
make a difference” in your congregation
and/or community?
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We have learned that
not every approach
will get us what we want…
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Story of the DMIS rollout
• What Went Well
• What Went Poorly
• What We Can Do Differently Going Forward
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What is Intercultural Competency?
• Interactions across cultural difference
Intercultural
• Knowledge, skills, and ability needed to perform tasks
Competence • Knowledge, skills,
and abilities needed to interact across cultural contexts
Intercultural Competency
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Intercultural Communication
In intercultural contexts, meaning cannot be
assumed…
• Shared meaning must be:
– Discovered
– Negotiated
– Created
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Examples of Intercultural Skills
• Knowledge of one’s own culture
(cultural self-awareness)
• The ability to maintain a
nonjudgmental interaction posture
• Cultural self-disclosure in mutual
vulnerability: real relationship
building
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Examples of Intercultural Skills
• Understanding intent ≠ impact
• Relationship repair and
“rebounding”
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Just one tool in the
Racial Justice tool box
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The Leadership School Mystery
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UU History Timeline
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UU History Timeline
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An invitation for this GA
• Your own reaction, humility,
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Monocultural to Intercultural
One size fits all
Let’s make the “us” together
What is it like to be
you?
We all bleed red!
They should be
like us
We should be like them
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Mindset & Skill Set
This work is an invitation to:
– Develop a more complex way of
viewing and interacting with culture
– Reflect on your values, attitudes,
and beliefs
– Expand your skill set in intercultural
interactions
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Monocultural Mindsets
Denial
Polarization
Minimization
Acceptance
Adaptation
DMIS
Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity
Mindsets
Intercultural
E x p e r i e n c e o f D i f f e r e n c e
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Exercise Share with a partner
• Something about your cultural
background that is important
to you
• Something about your cultural
background that is a strength
you bring to your work.
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Exercise… Stereotype Wall
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12-year-old Tamir Rice
Patrolman Tim Loehmann
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Stereotypes vs.
generalizations
_ A given characteristic (treatedas fact) applied to all membersof a group
_ Used as the only point ofreference.
_ New information is ignored.
Stereotypes
Generalizations
A hypothesis based on
various sources
(personal experiences,
research, etc.) that is
treated cautiously
Recognizes the diversity
within a group
Gives us a reference point
to build on…
Integrates new information
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What about power differences?
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Exercise
• What does it mean to be “on time”?
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(Pause)
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How Might You Use This?
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Key Intercultural Skills
• Cultural self-awareness
• Empathy
• Curiosity
• Tolerance for ambiguity
• Flexibility
• Courage
• Resilience
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…And the willingness to make mistakes and learn from them
uua.org Beth Zemsky MAEd, LICSW www.bethzemsky.com
Stage (DMIS) Description Intervention/Skill
Denial Comfortable with the
familiar
Awareness through
exposure
Defense:
Polarization &
Reversal
Dualist
- Us vs Them
- Them vs Us
Commonality
Minimization Over emphasis on
commonality
Cultural Self-Awareness
Acceptance Recognize cultural
difference
Curiosity (culture-
specific information)
Adaptation Shifting perspective &
behavior
Empathy/Frame-Shifting
DMIS Stages Interventions
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A Story of Hope
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Personal Growth Plan
of Intercultural Skills
• Knowledge of one’s own culture (cultural self-awareness)
• The ability to maintain a nonjudgmental interaction posture
• Cultural self-disclosure in mutual vulnerability: real relationship
building
• Understanding intent ≠ impact
• Relationship repair and “rebounding”
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Questions?
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