HOW TO IMPROVE NETWORKING SKILLS THROUGH DIVERSITY Thomas R. Easley

GROUND RULES Here to learn and share No one is a bad person Release yourself of guilt Be Open Don’t be afraid to discuss Use the word “and” to welcome many truths Try It Once

What are we going to do? Talk about Diversity A new way of thinking about diversity Apply it to yourself Talk about networking

DIVERSITY What is it?

DIFFERENCE How to Value Diversity?

ME Birmingham, AL Alabama A&M University University of Georgia Iowa State University Forestry Teacher Forest Service Counselor Urban Forestry Genetics NC State Diversity Director Homeowner Christian

UP DOWNS Borrowed from National Coalition for Building Institute

SOCIETY’S EYES Race Religious Affiliation Sexual Orientation Age Employment Education Health Socioeconomic Family Background Language African American Christian Heterosexual 27 Employed College graduate Abled Middle Class Traditional Family English

Get into pairings and make your own list

Groups Operates in our society Based on a hierarchy Value is placed on groups We are born into groups: Others we join, some are dominant and some excluded Privileges- rights granted to the groups

Privileges Male I can go to the restrooms without standing in line When I hear comments at meeting I always shear you guys, so I'm connected to the facilitator I can pursue women even if I'm in a relationship, but not married because its the nature of man I was able to get a lot from my mother unlike my sister I don’t get questioned about where I go. I don’t have think about where I walk at night I was given access to a wider world because I’m a man Access to more opportunities I don’t get challenged about my decisions

Christian I get all holidays off Little remarks like Oh Lord or Oh My God don't offend me Most people in the workplace that I work in are Christian so people talk about God I get Sundays off I can use church as an excuse not to work Marriage is easy issue because the of what people perceive from the Bible (Man and Woman) I can list my involvement in Christian activities on my resume and it be counted in my evaluation I can purchase cards for celebration in the malls and stores I can watch church shows on TV on Sunday and have church at home also the radio Our entire legal system is founded on Christian beliefs

Heterosexual No problem with marriage I still get all the benefits I can bring my female out to any formal function I don’t have to change what feels natural for you in terms of behavior or mannerisms to feel safe I can go to any club I can be a leader in the church I can be a leader in a business When I talk about my partner people will assume its a woman (I can safely talk about my partner) The privilege is the assumptions about my sexuality are correct. I can walk down the street with my girlfriend without fear of getting beat up, killed, or hearing offensive comments I can get Health insurance for my family Every time I turn on the TV there is a reinforcement of who I am

Dominator Agents keep it in place They feel guilt and pity; learn a false sense of superiority Kept in place by well-meaning people We are taught not to see it Castania, K and Garcia Mathewson, B. 2004

Excluded Do not have access to resources Socialized to be a victim Internalize negative messages against our better judgment

POWER Power with-exercised cooperatively among equals Power within- one’s own centeredness, one’s grounding in one’s own beliefs, wisdom, knowledge, skill, culture, and community Authority- wisdom, creativity, or expression of a group’s energy by an individuals that is recognized and agreed to by others as right at a certain time

Oppression Systemic Inertia around a belief system WE keep it in place We don’t talk about things HUSH! You repeat it Puts us in competition with one another, making us distrust and distance ourselves from each other

We are moving to empowered and unlearning our roles Understand you did not individually bring the situation about and good will is not going to solve it Not to decide is to decide Doing nothing is maintaining the status quo Need allies from members in the dominant groups Need to learn how to be allies Need people from excluded group to teach us NETWORKING

Allies Sense of connection to other people Collective responsibility Lack individualistic stance and ego Accept the struggle Knowledge of their own roots Good intentions do not matter is there is not action against oppression

NETWORKING Ask questions, do not always offer criticisms Go where there are those different from you Do not exclude yourself Be willing to learn from others Develop relationships with others. Be creative

Partner With We need to partner with others Difference is neither judged or measured Win-Win thinking Respect and dignity Power is dependent on personal responsibility Requires dedication and commitment

LEARN MORE National Coalition For Building Institute Opening Doors: A Professional and Personal Journey Harvey Lineberry Dr. Brenda Alston-Mills