SAA offers revised Cultural Diversity Competency course

 

A fully-revised Cultural Diversity Competency course taught by Helen Wong Smith is being offered via the SAA Zoom platform. This live course is scheduled for January 24, January 31 and February 7, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. U.S. central time (each day). Early-bird registration deadline is December 27, 2021. Participants will be provided with the most up-to-date information and readings on this critical topic. You’ll also be able to participate in live discussion with the expert instructor!   We all would like to believe that we are aware of Cultural Diversity Competency (CDC), but what exactly does it stand for? Helen Wong Smith says it’s the ability to function with awareness, knowledge, and interpersonal skill when engaging people of different backgrounds, assumptions, beliefs, values, and behaviors. In this workshop you’ll be challenged to examine personal perceptions that might surprise you and, you’ll be introduced to strategies that will increase your ability to practice inclusion. This workshop provides the four skills to employ CDC and the five stages individuals and organizations can implement to improve relations with internal and external communities.   Upon completion of this course, you'll be able to: Use the definition of CDC and the three levels of integration to reflect on their cross-cultural interactions. Use the five stages of the CDC continuum to reflect upon their strengths and challenges and those of their organizations. Employ four key CDC skills in order to improve their cross-cultural interactions. Recognize differences in knowledge and sense-making while recognizing indigenous cultures are not homogenous-each is unique, thus the very definition of diversity. Recognize where cultural-mindedness can be employed with culturally centered communication skills to form a foundation for contributing to culturally competent organizations, communities, and societies.   Who Should Attend: Archivists, librarians, staff, and managers who provide any type of information services. This workshop also addresses internal relationships.   What Should You Know Already? No prior knowledge necessary.  More information at SAA