*ALSO ON ONE NOTE*
This morning I attended the 20th multicultural conference, Promising Practices, which centered around “Education for a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace”. The day began as I ate breakfast and listened as President Frank Sanchez introduced the conference. He proudly spoke of trying to develop a unified campus community and teaching students to carry out a unified perspective of inclusiveness. His opening statements were encouraging and were a great introduction to the day. After breakfast I attended a workshop in Gaige Hall titled, “Class Matters in the Classroom”. Leslie Schuster, Chris Lambert, and Ben Concepcion enlightened us through both teaching material and personal experiences the reality of classism in America and in education. Previously I had perceptions about what classism was, but I never realized how class divides can be invisible and how our class can change how we live our lives. For example, an audience member spoke about how her Indian-American culture shifted how her family perceived her ambition of going to college, and how she has to really work hard for what she wants. Another person gave an example of how growing up in a lower working class family limited the way she was expected to grow up; she was supposed to work in a mill, not go to college, get married, and grow up in the same town she was raised in. Instead she got a divorce, went to college as an adult, and she has now raised her kids to pursue education and independence. Our lives are greatly affected by how we were raised financially, which is classism. In this workshop I learned all about how this is the hidden curriculum in K-12 schools (because each class has an unsaid set of rules and expectations), how this isn’t just about wealth and income (culture and language is different), and how this classism can cause problems in homes. When discussing language differences between classes, I was reminded of our class reading by Meier called, “Why Can’t She Remember That?”. This reading deals with this very topic, and because I understood how children react to authoritative language differently and enjoy learning what is relatable (according to the reading), I understood through this workshop how many times the class difference also causes a divide between different languages, but also through different motives in language (individualistic vs. subdued opinions) and sets of culture in language (ex. We use more formal language/conversations at an expensive wedding vs. a potluck wedding in someone’s backyard). Linked here is a video which provides yet another example of classism in America. The speakers used the term “straddling” to explain how someone might feel as they are transitioning from one class to another, which is what Ben attested to, as well as the Indian-American participant. This section reminded me of Esme in “Becoming Something Different”, as she aims to seek higher education in order to then be a part of the middle/upper class. We see this not only affect her motivation, but her family life and biculturalism as well.
After the workshop was complete, we all gathered together to hear Dr. Lisa McBride speak to us on “Innovating Diversity and Empowering Leaders: Reimagining Higher Education”. She began by telling us that “service is the rent we pay for living”, and that by living in 25 different countries she has been able to learn what true diversity looks like. Servanthood was a theme impeded throughout the talk, and then reminded me of “In the Service of What?” by Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer. We know that this article examines charity based service vs. change based service, and as Dr. McBride spoke about inclusion, I inferred she focused on change based service. Dr. McBride encouraged us by speaking about rising numbers in women going to college as well as becoming more involved through engineering and medicine because of the Perry Initiative. Yet, she urged us to encourage men to go to college and to invest in people, not prisons. There is a Ted talk by an urban sociologist Alice Goffman, who believes that we are preparing kids for both college and prison. Both McBride and Goffman encourage the use of programs to aid minority men in being equipped to go to college and become successful; it’s cheaper! Dr. McBride went on to talk about the issues of hate in our country and on our higher ed. campuses as well as the importance of having gratitude through student activism in combating hate. Finally, she went on to talk about inclusive excellence being incorporated into the workforce. Data has proven that diverse work teams in companies bring enhanced economic growth. Rocio Lorenzo, management consultant and diversity worker, reiterates this data in her TED talk and suggests that hiring more women in leadership positions will enhance innovation. Dr. McBride then put forth her belief that inclusive excellence brings equitable outcomes, holds educational institutions accountable for each student success, and is a change oriented approach. Listening to Dr. McBride’s story and experiences, as well as her input to changing the innovation of diversity, I was inspired to make a difference. Sometimes I think it is easy to feel incompetent and only a statistic as I travel through the college experience. But going to this conference today helped me to see how I can make a difference as an educator and even now as a college student.
Below are photos of Dr. McBride and from the event on November 4th: THEY ARENT UPLOADING BUT ARE ON MY FILE IN ONE NOTE
WELCOME 