Understanding Cultural Diversity
In this seminar, participants will be introduced to an interactive process that will help them to better understand the language and imagery of diversity in light of the changing demographics of American society and the importance of diversity to JCTA’s history and philosophy. Participants will also define diversity and explore the primary and secondary dimensions of diversity, the attitudes they can spawn, and the infinite ways that people are different. (2 hrs)

Developing Cultural Identity
Socialization is the process through which people learn about themselves, others, and the world. This seminar explores the intricate nature of the socialization process. Through the use of a model developed by Kate Kirkham, participants will examine how we learn about our own culture and the cultures of others. With the aid of interactive exercises, participants will better understand how the values, beliefs and self-concepts they harbor affect the way they think, behave, and make assumptions about people who are different. Participants also will learn how the absence of information, the silent teacher, can contribute to assumptions, even bigotry, about the status and entitlement of people who are different. (2 hrs)

Reacting to Differences
We value people who are different based on what we know or believe to be true about them. As a consequence, the treatment that we extend to others is rooted in our perceptions, values, and beliefs about them and their entitlements. Such treatment often results in the emergence of privileged and oppressed groups, or more simply put in a relevant workshop exercise, the creation of “insiders” and “outsiders.” In this seminar, a video is also sometimes presented to trigger critical thinking about prejudice, power and entitlement. The “Hot Buttons” activity will help participants to identify things that people say and do that make them angry or annoyed. Many of these things will be stereotypical; others will be subtle. Participants will be guided through a discussion of how they respond to their "hot buttons" being pushed and how they would like to respond in the future. (2 hrs)

Valuing Diversity
In this seminar, participants will examine and discuss how we can gain, “diversity competence,” as individuals and organizations as we move along a continuum toward fully accepting diversity. Participants also discuss how achieving diversity competence requires us to examine communication patterns and processes among individuals and groups that are different from each other. Finally, this session allows participate to examine how diversity work fits into their own goals and goals of their association, their school, and /or their district, and it provides participant to develop a plan to maximize the impact of their diversity work. (2 hrs)

JCTA Diversity Training is delivered to JCTA members by their peers, who are members of the JCTA Diversity Training Cadre.

For more information, contact:
Erin Houston
Jefferson County Teachers Association
1941 Bishop Lane – Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40218
(502) 454-34004, erin.houston@jcta.org