Diversity

Global Perspective/Building Community

(Skills: critical thinking, value and learn from diverse cultures and people)

The integration of intercultural knowledge and competence is ensuring students have a global perspective that will assist in their future success. With the continuous technological advancement making global business an ever-present reality, it is imperative to see ourselves as members of a global community, sharing the future with others. Beyond exposure to different cultures, our campus community offers the capacity to meaningfully engage those groups, through transformative learning.

Watch the following video from Getrude Matshe and answer the discussion questions.

Getrude Matshe speaks to a notion, borne out of the Ubuntu principles of empathy, collaboration, compassion and connection. She speaks to actions, not words, to living your truth and bringing your own lived experience to bear on solutions. Her talk is a real and an acute account of how her visceral experience is evidence of home-grown solutions working best.

Getrude Matshe: Living Ubuntu: We Rise by Lifting Others

https://youtu.be/Ld--_YzdnYw

Reflection Questions:

1. What does it mean to live the principles of Ubuntu?

 

2. Getrude Matshe asserts, “In every problem there is an opportunity” how can this sentiment used within the VSU campus community?

 

3. Getrude is a celebrated author, philanthropy consultant, and global curator and founder at HerStoryCircle - a women’s global empowerment organization. She can be considered a change maker. How would you define the term change maker? What practical ways can the spirit of the change maker manifest on our campus?

 

4. Stop and Think! Consider, for example, the lifelong relationships developed through created experiences like sports teams, musical bands, or fraternal groups. Where have you found community? How have these communities shaped you?

Communicating with Others

(Skills: Advocate for a point of view, listening, learning and reasoning,)

Cross-cultural communication is the process of recognizing both differences and similarities among cultural groups in order to effectively engage within a given context

Effective cross-cultural communication is necessary to bridge potential divides in the workplace, including differences in the following:

· Language: Completely different languages, dialects of the same language—even heavy regional accents

· Cultural norms: For example, shaking hands vs. bowing when you meet someone

· Geographic location: Different countries, but also different cities (or even neighborhoods!)

· Time zone: Especially critical for businesses that rely heavily on remote communication, but plays a role in any business that operates beyond the local level

· Age: Including the particular values and points-of-view of different generations

· Education: For example, business leaders with PhDs communicating with interns who are working toward their bachelor’s degrees

· Work culture: The different cultures of individual businesses, which can affect interactions with various partners and vendors · Communication style: For example, an executive who prioritizes the bottom line communicating with a colleague who uses a more personal, big-picture approach

Watch the following video from Pellegrino Riccardi and answer the discussion questions

Pellegrino, being a cross cultural expert, shares his personal and professional experience about how very different cultures can successfully coexist next to each other. Cross Cultural

Pellegrino Riccardi: Cross Cultural Communications https://youtu.be/YMyofREc5Jk

Reflection Questions:

1. What is meant by cross cultural communication?

 

2. Why is cross cultural communication necessary?

 

3. How can cross cultural communication be celebrated within the VSU campus community?

 

4. What part of your identity has unique communication features, and who do you share it with?

Attend at least (2) Brave Space Dialogue or Middle Ground events hosted by Student Diversity and Inclusion. The topics are as follows:

(Skills: Value and learn from diverse cultures and people)

· Brave Space - September 6th Suicide Awareness

· Brave Space - September 12th Voter Culture

· Middle Ground - September 15th Double Standards

· Brave Space – October 18th A Women’s Worth: Defining Femininity and Womanhood

· Brave Space – November 3rd What It Means to be American: An Indigenous Perspective

Reflection:

Please share your engagement experience after attending a Brave Space Dialogue or Middle Ground event. Give specific details regarding what you enjoyed, learned, or what you would enjoy seeing at these events in the future.