To Kick Off Black History Month, I thought I'd start off my featuring some of my favorite organizations that promote cultural awareness. I'm probably a bit fanatical about this because I feel I was deprived of the opportunity for cultural exploration during my elementary and secondary school years. I absolutely love how my kids schools focus on a variety of cultures every single day, although just watching the nightly (world) news is insightful too. Just this week, my kids and I have been discussing Egypt, Tunisia and Haiti, just from watching the news.
I wholeheartedly believe that the uncivility that rests in the U.S.A. today stems from a lack of being culturally competent. But isn't the USA the cultural melting pot? Yes, but we need to exhibit our cultural competency skills every single day as the article below explains.
The excerpt below is from an organization that is in Pittsbrugh, PA (yes GO STEELERS) call the www.dignityandrespectcampaign.com
BE Culturally Competent
Tip #7: Be Open
In the whole big scheme of things, there are many cultural differences that exist in the world today, all of which require some form of cultural competency to fully understand. Whether it be in the workplace, at church, at home, or at school, there is always a chance that the need to be culturally competent just might come into play. The following are a few ways that you can brush up on your cultural competency skills:
Learn about yourself - Start by exploring your own historical roots, beliefs, and values. Self-assessment can help you to realize the pervasive role culture plays in your life.
Learn about different cultures - Seek cultural insight through journal articles and academic books, or even consider learning another language. Immerse yourself in something unfamiliar.
Interact with diverse groups - Seek new cultural experiences with new people. Look for opportunities to network with diverse groups in your community.
By expanding your network and being open to new thoughts and ideas, you'll be sure to increase your level of cultural competence and understanding. And you may even make a new friend along the way!
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