Addressing Issues of Difference in Our Communities

Recent Programs

1. Cultural Competency: Sexism in the Workplace and Leadership/Management Skills; Cultural Competency: The Effects of Heterosexism and Racism on work with Youth in Care Fred Finch Youth Center, San Diego CA
2. Unpacking Your Knapsack: Creating Effective Learning Communities for Students of Color; leftOUT: Supporting LGBT and Queer Identified Youth of Color; Myth of the Model Minority: Supporting Pan-Asian Youth in Independent Schools NAIS People of Color Conference, Denver CO
3. Who's in Charge?: Creating Positive Youth-Adult Relationships , Teachers 4 Social Justice, San Francisco CA

Workshop Summary - Cultural Competency: Sexism in the Workplace and Leadership/Management Skills; Cultural Competency: The Effects of Heterosexism and Racism on work with Youth in Care

When supporting youth in care, cultural competency is an important skill for both management level professionals and direct cares staff. Using experiential activities, small group discussion, large group discussion, self-reflection and minimal lecture, participants will be introduced to language and communication skills for use in cultural competency related discourse. Participants will be introduced challenged to think critically about their own cultural identities and the identities of the youth they serve, as well as how diverse identities can be celebrated in the workplace. Through this process, staff will be better equipped to provide the highest level of care for youth and families supported by Fred Finch Youth Center.

Agenda

Groundrules/Introductions

Purpose: To present and agree upon a set of working "rules" for interaction during the session. To create a feeling of safety for each participant in the workshop.

Cultural Sharing Chart

Purpose: To engage participants in a process of opening up to one another on a personal level. To begin thinking about what culture means/ is and also to consider the ways in which culture is defined.

Racism is. . . Heterosexism is . . . Ableism is . . .

Purpose: To create a space where participants can begin to consider the stereotypes and beliefs that exist in society about various racial identities.

Cycle of Oppression

Purpose: For participants to gain a working understanding of oppression theory as well as a common vocabulary with which to engage conversations around the "isms". For participants to begin to consider ways in which institutional oppression and the target and agent identities created effect their daily lives as well as their professional practice.

Action Planning

Purpose: To give participants a chance to consider solutions to problems that may occur at Fred Finch Youth Center.

Closure

Purpose: To provide an opportunity for participants to share final thoughts about and feelings from the session.