Strength in Diversity

WITH . . . Carlos Conejo, LSSMBBcarlos@mculture.net

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Society of St. Vincent de Paul

End Poverty Through Systemic Change

Challenge of Collaborative Projects Around the World!

Here is not only a nation, but a nation teeming of nations…

Walt Whitman

• Diversity, in and of itself, is a God-created good that reflects the unity (oneness) and diversity (three-ness) of the Trinity of God. Colossians 1:15-17

• Ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity, in and of themselves, is not evil or sinful but fulfills a purpose in God’s plan for humanity.

• Diversity is distorted by the fall into sin, turning into a systemic ideological idolatry that breaks down community. Racism, therefore, is a sin. Galatians 3:28

• God’s mission of reconciliation inseparably includes reconciliation of people to each other, including racial reconciliation.

• Even in the Old Testament, God’s redemption plan includes blessing “all the nations” through Abraham (Gen. 18:18, 26:4), and making his house “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:7).

• Ethnic identity is always subordinate to spiritual identity.

• The church, or the Christian community, is God’s strategic vehicle for embodying, proclaiming and promoting God’s reconciliation of all things, including racial reconciliation.

Source: Christian Educator’s Journal May 2012

Galatians 3:28 — “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”

Some Thoughts on Biblical Aspects of Diversity…

DIVERSITY PERCEPTIONS

Race

Affirmative Action

Culture

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Vincentian Collaboration

Today, we will focus on

leveraging our

UNIQUENESS to build

stronger “teams” that

leverage our differences

rather than allow these

differences to separate us.

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DIVERSITY UNIVERSALS• Race * Gender Identity• Age * Personality• Education Level * Self-Esteem• History * Family Status• Values & Morals * Sibling Order• Religion * Appearance• Socio-Economic Status * Lifestyle• Gender * Type of work• Levels within the Vincentian Marian Families• Language * What else? "I have wished to give women a ministry in the Church, the ministry of charity"  St. Vincent

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HOW DO WE IDENTIFY OURSELVES?

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With so many of our young people in danger of losing hope, or of dropping out of school, or of feeling outcast and relegated to non-person status, we must renew our efforts to bring hope and joy to our children. Most Reverend Daniel E. Flores, Bishop Brownsville, Texas – Chairman, Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Catholic Church

"Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation"

Can you name other Differences?

_____________________________

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• How do these differences make you feel?

• Can we envision foreign missions where the missionaries are not just priests or brothers or sisters, but also single and married men and women from all the branches of our family?

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America will be full of more differences - Profile of America 2006

A.D.Total Population – 300 million• 72% White• 13% Black• 11% Hispanic• 4% Asian & Pacific Islander• 1% American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut

Profile of America 2015 A.D.

Total Population – 321 million• 63% White• 19% Black• 19% Hispanic• 7% Asian & Pacific Islander• 1% American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleut

Source: http://www.census.gov/popclock/

Profile of America 2015 A.D.

• One birth every 8 seconds• One death every 13 seconds• One person turns age 50 every 7 seconds• One international migrant every 33 seconds• Net gain: one person every 13 seconds• 13% of the U.S. population is over the age of 65• 35% of the Hispanic population is under 18• The Hispanic population average age is 30-35• The Asian population average age is 35-40

Source: http://www.census.gov/popclock/

Profile of America 2050 A.D.

Total Population 400 million• 47% White• 29% Hispanic• 13% Black• 9% Asian & Pacific Islander• 1% American Indian Eskimo, and Aleut•Source: PewResearchCenter

Four states have non-white majorities : Hawaii, New Mexico, California and Texas -- The District of Columbia’s population of “people of color” is over 50%

Profile of America 2050 A.D.

U.S.A. will be… The Epicenter of Diversity:

NOT in the cities, but in in previously white suburbs!

•Source: AOLNews.com

“You tell us that to love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete: it means seeing in every person the face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely. And you are, dear brothers and sisters, the face of Jesus.”

The TRUTH about:Legal vs Unauthorized Immigration

Most new immigrants will be Europeans. China, Japan and Korea are culturally resistant to diversity and unlikely to welcome large-scale immigration, even if much of their labor force has to go to work in walkers and wheelchairs.

The Millenial Generation is the most diverse in American History!

Under the age of 18 is growing the fastest! IN California and Nevada – Mixed marriages are at more than 13%!

Over 14% of

U.S.

Population

declared

themselves

2+ races

Bad Conflict vs. Good Conflict• Nationalism and/or

regionalism• Closed to Gender and

Lifestyle Issues• Judging• Other Cultural Habits that keep us from humility• Hesitancy to getting more involved

• Humility that invites others to share each other’s spiritual gifts

• Service to the poor• Evangelizing to people from different regions or countries

in a positive manner• Sharing and involving

others• Core Values, tolerance,

educating people on helping those in

need, as well as diversity training• Understanding Others, Not

judging• Cross-cultural education & communication• Passionate, yet humble networking• Collaboration

John 13:34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Avoid Stereotypes!

StereotypesStereotypes

An overly simplified assumption,opinion or belief…

Eye Contact Can be Different

Some prefer= DIRECT Eye-contact

For Some = Staring is “impolite” or “Aggressive”

Some Prefer eye avoidance means = “Respect”

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Different communities have differences when it comes to eye-contact

Intimacy Zones Can be Different

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Different communities have differences when it comes to how close or how far they sit or stand next to each other…

Other Language

English

Language Preference

Highly“American”

Think in English first

Highly“Ethnic”

Think in that language first

SpanishChineseTagalog

VietnameseJapaneseGermanItalian

RussianRegional Accents

Speak Both Spanish AND English

The vast majority of Hispanics are bilingual – • 85% Nationwide

• 62% of Hispanics age 5+ yrs are Bilingual: English-dependent • 57% of Hispanics age 5+yrs are Bilingual: Spanish-dependent• Only 5% of Hispanics are fully assimilated to the U.S.• 78.6% of Hispanics are either bicultural or unacculturated to the U.S. way of life

Source:AMDS Hispanicity(TM)

What motivates People of Color?

Family

IntegritySuccess

Heritage

What motivates People of Color?

Respect

RecognitionSupport

Church “Family”

Assimilation

- Age- Generation- Years in the U.S.- Education

5 WAYS OF WINNING FRIENDS

Trust Respect Think Ahead Communicate Practice

Consistency is the key!

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MANAGING CHANGE 1. Admit differences exist

2. Encourage & Ask for suggestions

3. Provide Information about people’s uniqueness

4. Involve everyone- Be INCLUSIVE - N0 excuses

5. Create a culture of TOLERANCE and COOPERATION

6. Cure concerns now!

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MANAGING CHANGE 1. Provide Opportunities to

mingle

2. Does everyone “know” how

to get along?

3. Overcome the “can’t get

along

4.Overcome the “won’t get

along

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MULTI-LINGUAL ,MULTI-CULTURAL EAR

1. Provide training, skills-building, coaching,

practice, practice, practice…

2. Assist with the A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E not the

aptitude

3. Build confidence - provide encouragement

4. Provide constructive, safe discussion

5. Provide CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK

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PARENTS, FRIENDS & COMMUNITY

Peer interactions – Volunteers, Staff, “The Human Touch” Volunteer orientation Multicultural and Diversity awareness Mentorships: “Volunteer buddies” – Job-

S Sharing, Job Shadowing until skill is learned, Best-Practices…

Build bridges Utilize Centers-of-Influence

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LEADERSHIP MUTUAL RESPECT

Open communication Attempt new languages &

customs Encourage “sharing” Positive prevention Encouragement vs. punishment Christ-centered vs. Different- centered Develop tomorrow’s leaders Build high self-esteem - No

“dream-killing”

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Become future-oriented, not past-oriented

Winners

• Self Confident, flexible, take appropriate risks and create

innovation• Considers others when

making decisions• Understands that it is one-process,

one customer, and that we are

inter-dependent on each other: “What I do affects you, what she does affects him,” etc.

• Customer-centered: Both internal and external

• Does not take things personally

• Looks for opportunities to communicate & create personal growth

• Learns from their mistakes

• Works with others to find the “the reason why” instead of the “blaming others”

• Moves with a Sense-of urgency.

• Maintains an open mind & point-of-view

• Support others as team mates

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Losers:

• Takes very few risks• Makes decisions

independently of others or without considering interdependence on each other.

• “Me”-centered vs. “TEAM” Or “customer”-centered.

• Looks for ways to work alone

• Takes things personally.

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• Repeats the same mistakes over and over again and expects different results.

• Looks to “blame” others

• Moves slowly and cautiously.• Fixed point-of-view

• Conservative

• Treats others with disdain, No respect, No support.

Diversity: An ongoing strength for the World-wide Catholic Church and the

United States• An ongoing source of strength for the Church and the

United States over the next 40 years will be its openness to Diversity.

• More than most other countries: the Church and the U.S. will be reshaped and re-energized by an increasing racial and ethnic diversity.

In the 21st century, failure will not come from lack of skill, but from lack of understanding and adapting to new ways and situations!

Carlos Conejo

All The Best...