Cultural Diversity
and Equity
We bring two important,
complementary approaches to this work: an
intercultural development perspective, and
a commitment to recognizing the role played by
power, marginalization and privilege, as
we work to eliminate oppression and build
equitable organizations and communities.
Intercultural development, or the
development of intercultural competence, is an ongoing
process through which we deepen our understanding of our
own and others' cultures and perspectives, and strengthen
our ability to interact with people who have different
cultural perspectives. Dr. Milton Bennett's
developmental model of intercultural sensitivity
(DMIS) is a foundation for this work. We can help
you develop and implement training, shared experiences,
development plans and organizational change initiatives to
build intercultural competence and inclusiveness. The
Intercultural Development Inventory
(IDI) can help you to assess your situation and
target interventions.
People's experiences and identities, along with
organization and community cultures and dynamics, are also
shaped by power imbalances and systems of dominance
and exclusion that advantage and disadvantage
groups in our society, institutions and organizations,
based on race, class, gender, sexual orientation, physical
abilities, and more. These power dynamics, and their
impacts in our daily lives and our institutions, must be
examined and acknowledged in order for all of us to
participate in transforming these systems and building
equitable communities.
We can help you develop and implement training and
organizational change initiatives that aim for
deepening understanding and alliance
building, not 'shaming and blaming'. We take an
inclusive approach that facilitates full engagement of all
participants, even in initiatives focused on a particular
system/aspect of oppression, such as racism.
We work with adults and youth of all ages
on intercultural competence, inclusion, and equity. We work
with schools, teachers, youth
workers, and with children from 3rd grade on up--see
for example New Friends and Fair Play.