BERSEEEER He ne oo SEES el EXPERIENCES ON CAMPUS wil the mg CENTER ,,, DIversiry & INCLUSION Orrice oF Campus LiFe | AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Creating Inclusive Communities COMMUNITIESLearning Outcomes Participants will gain a better understanding of their own identities and how they identities are important when interacting with others Participants will develop strategies to incorporate inclusivity in their daily life Guidelines for the Session ** below are also good inclusive practices as well ay 2. 3. 4 5, Respect the learning process and each other Intent vs. impact and challenge with care Question for understanding Recognize how your identities impact and inform your worldview Lean into the discomfort and identify your learning edgeMultidimensional Identity Development Model (2007 — Abes, Jones, & McEwen) Each of us is made up of multiple identities, but each of these identities impacts us differently based on how significant they are to us. The significance of each of our identities changes based on context, time, place, etc. AND the significance is different than our friends, family members, and other peers. ‘Additionally, we all understand our identities and the identities of others based on how we interpret, ignore, and consume the messages we receive about all of these different identities. ‘The “filter” below represents how we interpret, ignore, _ and consume messages Seemed Bt Messages from outside world including (but not limited to) peers, family, norms, school, media, stereotypes, and current life experiences ‘What messages did you receive that impacted your understanding of your identity and the identities of others? A note on intersectionality Intersectionality promotes an understanding of people being shaped by the interaction of different social identities. These interactions occur with a context of connected systems and structures of, power (laws, policies, governments, media, etc) that then create systems of oppression that are connected to each other. ‘Adapted from “Intersectionality 101” by Olena Hankivsky BI PageLet’s Talk About You! Which identity or identities do you think about the most? Why? How? Wien NRO ROI e nea nee i eennc hae ncnee ia cee ed eka ta ceneieeran aM R RCE Wino eta t eee ncuron na TUS ERUE Ts enc * Think about your race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, nationality, size/appearance, family structure, relationship status, social or economic class, age, or other identity when answering. 4|PageAttitudes Stereotypes Microaggressions Rules Laws Norms Resistance to Inclusion Anote on microaggressions “Microaggressions are the brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults to the target person or group” Derald Wing Sue “Microaggressions in Everyday Life”Practices for Creating A More Inclusive AU Embrace Social C) Respect Silence Responsibility POOOOOOOOO4 When Others Speak, Listen Deeply |) suspend (i All Voices Have Value 7*49ement Practice Slowing Down IDENTIFY AND CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS reate An Advice Free Zone CREATE AN OPEN ENVIRONMENT a » PRACTICE ASKING HONEST AND OPEN QUESTIONS, Speak Viner Stories stay, Your Truth | — Learning leaves Be Present To Listen To Multiple PerspectivesEmbrace social responsibility © Hold yourself and your peers accountable to these and other practices intended to create a safe and inclusive community * Holding other accountable is always easier when we hold ourselves accountable first Create an open environment ‘+ We all arrive in isolation and need the generosity of friendly welcomes. Bring all of yourself to this community. ‘© Consider who is or what is missing from the space. ‘+ Welcome others with inclusive language, behaviors and manners, and *presume that you are welcomed as well. (*we recognize that this can be challenging for some folks) * Hospitality is the essence of preserving an inclusive community. When others speak, listen deeply ‘+ Listen intently to what is said; Listen to the feelings beneath the words. ‘© Strive to achieve a balance between listening and reflecting, speaking and acting. * When listening, seek to understand first; then to be understood. Identify & challenge assumptions * Our assumptions are usually invisible to us, yet they influence our worldview. By identifying our assumptions, we can set them aside and open our viewpoints to greater possibilities. © When you find yourself making assumptions, ask questions and check in with others to ensure the assumption is accurate. ‘The terms values, principles, and assumptions are sometimes used as if they all mean the same thing the underlying truths on which we base our dealings with the world. In fact, although they are all “truths” to some extent, they are different in meaning and substance. These are important to consider when we're applying moral or ethical rules or judgments, and when we're responding to emotion or bias or unexamined “knowledge” that may not be accurate. All voices have value + Hold these moments when a person speaks as precious because these are the moments when a person is willing to stand for something ‘© Trust the group and offer something they see as valuable. Respect silence * Silence is a rare gift in our busy world. After someone has spoken, take time to reflect without immediately filling the space with words. This applies to the speaker as well. * Be comfortable leaving your words to resound in the silence without refining or elaborating on what you have said, Stories stay, learning leaves © Develop and maintain trust in a community by respecting those that have shared personal information with you. ‘© tis gossiping to share information that is not yours to share. ‘+ When people share their stories, listen deeply (inclusive practice above) and incorporate what you learned from the conversation into your understanding of identity and community. 7\PaeCreate an advice fr zone + Replace advice with curiosity, Each of us are here to individually discover our own truths ABs We are not here to “set someone clse straight member of the group! or “fix” what we ‘+ Resource and idea sharing is MerediDly mportarit and uselur, Dut each community member sTou be empowered to identify their own journey. Speak your truth © You are invited to say what is in your heart, trusting that your voice will be heard and your contribution respected. 4 Own your truth by remembering to speak only for yourself. Using the first person “I” rather the “you” or “everyone” clearly communicates the personal nature of your on lls * Our "truth" runs much deeper than any of our opinions. Truth is about how we feel and what is real for us. Truth is not about being right; it's about expressing what we think and feel in an authentic, vulnerable and transparent way. Practice slowing down * Simply the speed of modern life can cause violent damage to the soul. By intentionally practicing slowing down, we strengthen our ability to extend humanity to others and to ourselves. Suspend judgment ‘Set aside your judgments by creating a space between judgments and reactions, we can listen to others, and to ourselves more fully ‘+ Suspend judgment by becoming aware of pre-conceived notions; listening to the entire speech before jumping to conclusions; and listening to what the speaker has to say for understanding, not just to determine whether the speaker is right or wrong ‘Stop, step back, adopt a new point of view, and reflect from this new vantage point. Frame up— adopt a broader reference frame. Allow inquiry to displace certainty. Embrace your ignorance. Be willing to disclose your own doubts. Acknowledge what you don't know and don't understand. What ‘am | missing? What am | protecting? Be present te + Answer questions honestly even if the answer seems unpopular. listen to multiple perspectives ‘+ Ifyou find yourself disagreeing with another, becoming judgmental, or shutting down in defense, try turning to wonder: “| wonder what brought them to this place?”, “I wonder what my reaction teaches me?, “I wonder what they are feeling right now?” ‘+ Engage marginalized people as the experts of their experiences. ‘+ When people answer a question they are conditioned to seek the right answer. Encourage them to answer honestly, even if that mean we hold multiple truths. BIPage© Questions ask the respondent to think and reflect. © Questions will give you opinions and feelings. ‘© Questions hand control of the conversation to the respondent. © Open questions begin with such as: what, why, how, describe. © Agreat question is ambiguous, personal, and thought provoking * If someone does not want to answer your question, then they do not have to. Tam committed to Evaluation Please complete the evaluation for this workshop at If you would rather complete a papercopy, please ask a facilitator for Questions? eC Contact the Center for Diversity & Inclusion! ~ © cdi@american.edu ‘© www facebook.com/AUcd © www.twitter.com/aucdi © 202-885-3651 Citations ‘+ Abes, E,, Jones, S., & McEwen, M. (2007). Reconceptualizing the model of multiple dimensions of Identity: The role of meaning-making capacity in the construction of multiple identities. Jounral of College Student Development, 48(1), 1-22 * Hankivsky, 0. (2014). Intersectionality 101. The Institute for Intersectionality Research and Policy, SFU. Retrieved from httos://www.sfu.ca/liro/documents/resources/101 Final # Sue, D.W. (2010). Microaggressions in everyday life: Race, gender, and sexual orientation, Hoboken, Ni: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. gIp