Monday, March 14, 2011

Living in a Multi-Cultural World

Today in my class (Developing Intercultural Competency) we had four guests join us to talk about their lives and ministries. Three of the guests were people of color, the fourth was a young, white woman, and all four are working in intercultural jobs. It was fascinating to hear their stories and words of wisdom about how to navigate the racial, ethnic, and cultural differences we each butt up against every day. As the class session ended, our profession invited them to each share a few words of advice for how we might live into these differences well. Their words were very helpful, so I thought I would share them with you. Hear all of these thoughts within a multi-cultural context. Here are their responses:
  1. Immerse yourself in uncomfortable learning communities
  2. Don't do anything out of guilt
  3. Become a part of a community (let your neighborhood teach you)
  4. Ask "How can I be sustainable in this community?"
  5. Be okay with who you are
  6. Be bold in what you can offer that community
  7. Be comfortable with chaos
  8. Create liminal space for conversation and learning to happen
  9. Be proactive in learning about other cultures

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