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Intercultural Skills for a

Diverse World Rev. Evin Carvill-Ziemer, UUA Congregational Life

Rev. Rob Keithan, Adjunct Staff, Central East Region

Rev. Jonipher Kwong, UUA Congregational Life

Rev. Renee Ruchotzke, UUA Congregational Life

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Assumptions

• There are various approaches to

this type of work

• We are presenting one model as

our fundamental framework:

Developmental Model of

Intercultural Sensitivity

• Everyone is at different stages of

development

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Assumptions

• Everyone “has culture.” We are

culture beings. There is no one norm.

• One cannot tell by looking at someone

one, what is their racial, cultural,

ethnic, or gender identity

• We are all adults who are able to take

care of our own needs

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Theological Grounding in UU Values

Foundational Principle: Oneness

Unitarian

Universalism

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Engaging Diversity Means

• Learning to recognize the differences that make a difference.

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Our UU Theological Challenge

FINDING WAYS to

1. Affirm the common humanity and value of every person

WHILE ALSO

2. Recognizing the differences that make a difference

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Introductions

• Who are we?

• How did we get here?

• Who are you?

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Traditional Approaches

To Intercultural Competency (Diversity) Work

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Teaching non-dominant groups how to

behave in the dominant culture.

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Sensitivity Training

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Learning other cultures’

holidays, food, dances

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Training on Legal Requirements

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Systemic analysis of oppression

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Assumptions of the Intercultural Approach

• Developmental

• Capacity to experience

commonalities and differences with

increasing complexity

• Capacity to shift behavior and

mindset based on the the cultural

context.

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Assumptions of the Intercultural Approach

• Difference based, process

based, face to face interactive,

and holistic

• Can still be used to address

imbalances of power

• There is so much to talk about

in this approach –

communication styles, conflict

styles, institutional change…

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Where we

often think we

are…

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…when

we usually

are here

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To Be More Interculturally Competent,

We Learn to Work Across Difference

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Communication

Is the creation of shared

meaning

Intercultural Communication

Is the creation of

shared meaning

across cultural

contexts

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Every Conversation is an

Intercultural Conversation.

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Diversity is…

The fact of human difference, that

may make a difference – in how we

interact…with one another, with

communities, institutions, and with

ourselves.

Nehrwr Abdul-Wahid

What are some of the “differences that may

make a difference” in your congregation

and/or community?

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We have learned that

not every approach

will get us what we want…

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Story of the DMIS rollout

• What Went Well

• What Went Poorly

• What We Can Do Differently Going Forward

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What is Intercultural Competency?

• Interactions across cultural difference

Intercultural

• Knowledge, skills, and ability needed to perform tasks

Competence • Knowledge, skills,

and abilities needed to interact across cultural contexts

Intercultural Competency

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Intercultural Communication

In intercultural contexts, meaning cannot be

assumed…

• Shared meaning must be:

– Discovered

– Negotiated

– Created

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Examples of Intercultural Skills

• Knowledge of one’s own culture

(cultural self-awareness)

• The ability to maintain a

nonjudgmental interaction posture

• Cultural self-disclosure in mutual

vulnerability: real relationship

building

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Examples of Intercultural Skills

• Understanding intent ≠ impact

• Relationship repair and

“rebounding”

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Just one tool in the

Racial Justice tool box

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The Leadership School Mystery

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UU History Timeline

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UU History Timeline

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An invitation for this GA

• Your own reaction, humility,

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Monocultural to Intercultural

One size fits all

Let’s make the “us” together

What is it like to be

you?

We all bleed red!

They should be

like us

We should be like them

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Mindset & Skill Set

This work is an invitation to:

– Develop a more complex way of

viewing and interacting with culture

– Reflect on your values, attitudes,

and beliefs

– Expand your skill set in intercultural

interactions

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Monocultural Mindsets

Denial

Polarization

Minimization

Acceptance

Adaptation

DMIS

Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity

Mindsets

Intercultural

E x p e r i e n c e o f D i f f e r e n c e

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Exercise Share with a partner

• Something about your cultural

background that is important

to you

• Something about your cultural

background that is a strength

you bring to your work.

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Exercise… Stereotype Wall

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12-year-old Tamir Rice

Patrolman Tim Loehmann

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Stereotypes vs.

generalizations

_ A given characteristic (treatedas fact) applied to all membersof a group

_ Used as the only point ofreference.

_ New information is ignored.

Stereotypes

Generalizations

A hypothesis based on

various sources

(personal experiences,

research, etc.) that is

treated cautiously

Recognizes the diversity

within a group

Gives us a reference point

to build on…

Integrates new information

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What about power differences?

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Exercise

• What does it mean to be “on time”?

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(Pause)

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How Might You Use This?

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Key Intercultural Skills

• Cultural self-awareness

• Empathy

• Curiosity

• Tolerance for ambiguity

• Flexibility

• Courage

• Resilience

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…And the willingness to make mistakes and learn from them

uua.org Beth Zemsky MAEd, LICSW www.bethzemsky.com

Stage (DMIS) Description Intervention/Skill

Denial Comfortable with the

familiar

Awareness through

exposure

Defense:

Polarization &

Reversal

Dualist

- Us vs Them

- Them vs Us

Commonality

Minimization Over emphasis on

commonality

Cultural Self-Awareness

Acceptance Recognize cultural

difference

Curiosity (culture-

specific information)

Adaptation Shifting perspective &

behavior

Empathy/Frame-Shifting

DMIS Stages Interventions

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A Story of Hope

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Personal Growth Plan

of Intercultural Skills

• Knowledge of one’s own culture (cultural self-awareness)

• The ability to maintain a nonjudgmental interaction posture

• Cultural self-disclosure in mutual vulnerability: real relationship

building

• Understanding intent ≠ impact

• Relationship repair and “rebounding”

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Questions?

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