The Mission of the Winchester Multicultural Network is to:
- Promote the recognition, understanding, and appreciation of diversity;
- Advocate for each and every person’s civil rights;
- Confront intolerance.
Adapted from those developed by VISIONS, Inc.
- TRY ON
* an invitation to be open-minded and not quick to close down to other people's ideas or feelings.
* encourages us to be curious about how it is that someone else might see the world differently.
* what fits, take home; what doesn't feel free to leave here.
- OK TO DISAGREE
* with a diverse group, disagreement is not only inevitable, it also can help the group grow.
* individuals and groups can grow not only by finding what they have in common, but also, by recognizing, understanding and appreciating what it is that is different between them.
* most of us have never learned how to disagree in a way that keeps people connected and communicating.
- NOT OK TO BLAME, SHAME OR ATTACK OTHERS OR SELF
* many of us show our disagreements by making the other person wrong.
* this can happen in direct or indirect ways; in verbal and nonverbal ways.
* watch for ways that we not only blame, shame or attack others, but also, how quick we are to do it to ourselves as well; when we're beating up on ourselves for making a mistake or not knowing something, we're not able to take in what others are trying to share with us.
- USE A SELF-FOCUS
* use "I" statements and talk about what is going on for "me" instead of "we", "they" or "you".
* listen to what it is that is happening inside of you; for example, when I find myself getting irritated with someone, I have an option of trying to figure out what's going on for me and not necessarily seeing it as being about the other person or people.
* we also need to take responsibility for not always hearing a disagreement or challenge as an attack. For example, when someone shows that they are angry or passionate, they are not necessarily blaming, shaming or attacking. Practicing how to not react defensively, or take things too "personally" can really help, especially in cross-cultural situations between people. An option is to let the person know that you heard what they were trying to communicate and what it means for you.
- PRACTICE BOTH/AND THINKING
* most of us have been taught to see the world as "either/or"--things are either right or wrong, good or bad, this or that (dichotomous thinking).
* "both/and" means that more than one reality or perspective can be true at the same time and not cancel the other out (diunital thinking).
- INTENT VS. IMPACT
* be aware of and accountable for both the intent and impact of our words and actions. Very often people defend their actions by arguing that their intentions were good.
* to promote multiculturalism and the appreciation of differences, one must value and prioritize feedback about the negative impact of our actions, without diminishing or explaining away that feedback based on good intent.
- HONOR CONFIDENTIALITY
* no gossip or passing information about others that is of a personal nature.
* don't assume that just because someone felt free to share about personal things in the group setting, that they would want to talk about it outside of the group; please ask first.