Diversity Prism

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Diversity Prism

• Reaching Forward 2009
• MEDJO-ME-ZENGUE Chris.

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If you do things the way youve always done them,
youre likely to end up with the same results
youve always gotten. - Omvang proverb
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Resumen

• Cultural competency
• Linguistic competency
• Tips from the bodega
• a little bird told me
• What about You? Yes I mean you!

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Cultural Competency

• Cultural competence is a developmental process
  that evolves over an extended period.
• Both individuals and organizations are at various
  levels of awareness, knowledge and skill along
  the cultural competence continuum.
  
• (Adapted from Cross et Al,1989)

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Cultural Competency

• Have a defined set of values and principles.
• Demonstrate intent, behaviors, attitudes,
  policies and structures that allow for effective
  cross-cultural work

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Learning something new does not erase what you
already know.
-Yebekolo proverb
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Cultural Competency

• Have the capacity to
• value diversity
• conduct self-assesment
• manage the dynamics of difference.
• Acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge
• Adapt to the diversity and cultural context of
  the communities you serve.

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Cultural Competency

• Incorporate the above in all aspects of policy
  making, administration, practices and service
  delivery.
• Systematic involvement of patrons, key
  stakeholders and communities.
• Mcdonald,l.Billingham,S. (1997)

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Linguistic Competence

• Capacity of an organization and its personnel to
  communicate effectively and convey information in
  a manner that is easily understood by diverse
  audiences.
• This includes persons of limited English
  proficiency, those with low literacy skills or
  not literate and individuals with disabilities.

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Linguistic Competence

• Organizations must have
• Policies
• Structures
• Practices
• Procedures
• Dedicated resources
• to support and increase this capacity.

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Quien habla dos lenguas vale por dos
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Linguistic competence

• Services and supports are delivered in the
  preferred language (s) and/or modes of delivery
  of the population served
• Written materials are translated, adapted, and/or
  provided in alternative formats based on the
  needs and preferences of your patron base.

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Linguistic competence

• Patrons are engaged in the evaluation of language
  access and other communication services to ensure
  and gauge effectiveness, quality and satisfaction.

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Tips from the Bodega Practice and Service
Design

• Identify and understand the needs of individuals
  and families
• Design and implement services that are tailored
  to the unique needs of individuals, children,
  families, organizations and communities served.

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Tips from the Bodega Practice and Service
Design

• Practice in service delivery and planning is
  driven by Client/Patron preferred choices, not by
  culturally blind or culturally free interventions.

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Tips from the Bodega Practice and Service
Design

• Embrace and extend the concept of self
  determination to your community
• Work in conjunction with natural, informal
  support and helping networks within culturally
  diverse communities
• (e.g. civic, neighborhood and advocacy
• groups. Local/Neighborhood merchants.
• ethnic, social, religious organizations.)

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Tips from the Bodega Practice and Service
Design

• Community members ought to be involved and
  provide input in decision making.
• Reciprocal transfer of knowledge and skills
• Library staff Patrons/community

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Hakuna Matata -Swahili saying
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Tips from the Bodega Practice and Service
Design

• Authentic vs About cultures
• What language (s) ?
• Best ways to offend everyone in your community,
  NOT!
• Which culture (s)?
• Ways to measure achievement in
• cultural programming for libraries

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Tips from the Bodega Practice and Service
Design

• Effective methods to develop non English
  collections
• Follow the sources where do these patrons get
  their needs met?
• Original vs. translated materials?
• What about policies?
• Network for material sources
• Who are your friends ?

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Tips from the Bodega Practice and Service
Design

• Multi-Cultural Books Videos
• a one-stop shopping source for over twenty
  years, Multi-Cultural Books Videos, Inc., has
  assisted librarians, educators and wholesalers to
  effortlessly and inexpensively purchase materials
  in all of the major and minor languages of the
  world.
• Phone [phone]
• http//multiculturalbooksandvideos.com
• e-mail service_at_multiculbv.com

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Degrees of Cultural Awareness

• Level 1 My way is the only way.
  ( Parochial stage)
• Level 2 I know their way my way is better.
  (Ethnocentric stage)
• Level 3 My way and their way.
  (Synergistic stage)
• Level 4 Our way.
  (Participatory Third culture stage)

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Lo Mas Importante

• Value diversity
• Admit what you dont know
• Empathy
• Systematically check your assumptions
• Become comfortable with ambiguity
• Cultural self-assesment
• Adapt and embrace diversity

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A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME

• Systems and libraries must support and in some
  cases mandate the incorporation of cultural
  knowledge into policy making, infrastructure and
  practice.
• NON DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
• AND EQUAL ACCESS IN SERVICES

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DISCLAIMER

• Thank you for coming and participating today.
• Medjo-Me-Zengue Chris
• cmedjo_at_hotmail.com tel [phone]