The Point of It All

One of my greatest hopes is to always have the ability to holistically accommodate the individual needs of every family regardless of their diverse backgrounds and circumstances. There is a difference between hearing and truly listening to what is being shared with you. I want to listen, understand, and assist in supporting and providing the equity needed to create an even playing field so that opportunities are fair and equal.

As an early childhood professional, the goal should always be to know as much as possible about all issues and concerns related to topics of diversity, equity, and social justice. Since you never know what needs families will present, it’s good to always have a strong networking system to reach out to for advice and guidance. There is no need to re-invent what already works, so gaining the insight from others is valuable in being a well-rounded provider of services. The answers are embedded in our ability, as people, to work together despite our differences for the betterment of the world. We all have something to contribute, and therefore everyone holds a key to successfully eliminating injustices.

I want to send out a special “thank you” to everyone who shared stories that help me grow personally and professionally. I appreciate this beyond my ability to express it in words. 

 

http://happytruelife.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/daily-truth-only-as-a-collective/only-as-a-collective-human-spirit-can-we-vanquish-gree-hatred-and-war/

Welcoming A New Family

The new arriving family to my social service agency is coming from the country of Laos (surrounded by China, Thailand, and Vietnam). In my efforts to be supportive in constructing a welcoming and comfortable environment for all members of the family, the following attempts will be made to prepare; 

·         I would contact former colleagues from the International YMCA (World YMCA http://www.ymca.int) to inquire about speaking to someone employed by them that comes from Laos. This conversation would hopeful give me better insight of some informal and formal customs and practice of their culture.

·         I would also attempt to contact a professor in the International Studies Department at a local University to also have a conversation and share the information that I gathered from International YMCA. During this time, I would compare data to ensure that nothing was unintentionally being left out.

·         Of course, reaching out to colleagues and friends who maybe from Laos, know someone from the country, or worked with a family and have personal/professional firsthand experience in providing quality services would be the next option. Why reinvent to wheel when one already exist through learning from mistakes previously made by others willing to share.

·         Another valuable resource would be inquiring whether there is a Laotian Embassy in/or near my city to contact for additional facts and guidance on what I could do to holistically embrace a family arriving from the country. 

·         Lastly, visiting reliable internet sources and trying to successfully implement the things I’ve learned would be my final goal. Asking someone with prior experience to assess me through role playing would give me the necessary feed back to make adjustments as needed. 

These preparations are mutually to benefit the family (displaying a passion of wanting to learn more about them) as well as an educational opportunity for me (making me more culturally well rounded and appreciative of others). 

 

http://nicolesjourneyinlaos.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/hong-hien-school-part-1/

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

My First Experience: 

Moments of prejudice and bias are unforgettable to most everyone involved whether as the receiver or initiator. Based on my recollection, the first noted negative encounter I experienced related to the color of my skin was directed to an elder family member. My day was filled with the excitement of tagging along on a trip to the furniture store for a new living room set. The current one had been in place since before I was born and I was then ten years old and counting. I recall walking around the enormous store room reviewing all the merchandise in stock. After a while, my family member signaled a sales clerk to come over while making a comment out loud about waiting a long period of time for a simple acknowledgement of just being in the store while other white customers were being greeted and helped. Surprisingly to me, there was no apologize or smile, instead the implicit message through interpersonal oppression given off by the sales clerk displayed her focus on providing quality service to the white customers only.

As memory would have it, I recall another sales clerk (who was of African American descent) assisted us in completing the transaction and also receiving a hefty commission on the sale which was paid in cash. The attitude and assumption that as African American people, we did not possess the means to buy expensive furniture and therefore would be wasting the time of the previous sales clerk, caused her preconceived notions and biases to disrespect and devalue what my grandmother had to offer the store monetarily. Due to that experience, I am always mindful of the quality of service being provided to me. In addition, I also, regardless of religion, class, race, etc, provide all people with the best service I have to offer to prevent repeating the discomfort and humiliation felt by us that November day. 

The Caucasian sale clerk should treat all customers (even potential ones) with the same level of respect and eliminate her personal views and opinions in the work place (if not totally). 

Microagression

I can recall during various moments in school (including college), times when I would overhear some people say that you better get an Asian friend if you want to do good in any of your challenging classes or get a good grade period. This classic case of racial microagression falsely recognizes that all Asian students naturally excel in all academics regardless of the subject matter and who they are as individuals. I have never identified with this stereotype. Like many other harmful misconceptions, this is totally untrue and lessens the credit deserved for the strong work ethic and dedication that many people of Asian descendent possess when it comes to wanting to make a better life for future generations.

I also remember the shock of some students when they found out there were no magic tricks that Asian students had to just getting the answers right (Big Surprise, Right!!!). It actually took a lot of self discipline and devotion to studying to earn some of the top ranking scores in the class. In retrospect, whenever there were students of Asian descendent that didn’t have the highest of grades, comments (including those from teachers) would then be made referencing them being different from others in their race (so inappropriate) and I'm sure also damaging. 

Taking the time to reflect on the importance of knowing what microagression is and moments of it that I have witnessed in the past, has caused me to be even more mindful of my selected words during my conversations. Even when harmful assumptions are made unintentionally, the ramifications can still have the same affects as if they were done with malice intent. I am thankful for my insight. 

 

http://www.sausd.us/Page/12092  

Different Perspectives

What is your definition of culture and diversity (in your words)?

Response One: Culture is the style which you were reared as a child, your upbringing. Diversity is the differences amongst all people and their cultures.

Response Two: Culture is food, is religion, your clothes, it’s a part of you passed down from generation to generation. Diversity is a variety of differences, people, races, and nationalities all together.

Response Three: Culture is the core fiber to the fabric that makes us into who we are. It’s everything all around us all the time. Diversity shows us the unique ways we are different from one another. Language, style of dress, choice of worship, and who we love (opposite or same sex) are all part of how diverse our worlds can be.

All the responses above reflect areas consistent with what I’ve learned both culture and diversity to be. Of course, not every part of my friends and family members’ definitions contain the many textbook versions of what culture and diversity are, however, collectively they covered many of the facets and mentions of religion, parenting, clothing attire, cuisine, language, and even love. Since I only asked them for their definitions of culture and diversity, there was no lead way to add how dominant culture typically makes the rules of what is deemed appropriate and allowable in society. Actually seeing the facial expressions and hearing their responses reinforced for me how we (people) may approach things from different angles, however, still accomplishing the exact some goal.