development, creative financial options, inclusive accreditation practices and inclusive internship practices to achieve the goal of creating change and influencing the profession’s future through the academies.
Theme 8:
Managing the Culture of Diversity
Co-Leaders:
Joyce Raspa, AIA, Esq.; Brian McAlexander, Assoc. AIA; and Derwin Broughton, AIA, NOMA
With a need to celebrate the differences of diverse cultures in developing further awareness and deeper understanding of the opportunities diversity can provide, this discussion will consider how to initiate the celebration of differences while maintaining identity. Participants will work toward the goals of managing and developing a diverse human resource base. The conversation will also include looking to the future beyond regulatory compliance and cultural assumptions to a broad acceptance of multicultural policies and practices.
BREAKOUT KEY DISCUSSION POINTS The breakout sessions enabled all participants to have a voice in the diversity dialogue and set the stage for continued discussion and action on a local level. These facilitated discussions encouraged cross cultural dialogue and ongoing collaboration. After an intensive afternoon discussing the various themes, some of the ideas and thoughts were as follows:
Set a platform for equality of educational access all groups. Specifically by helping with strong Education background AND money (& ’community’ etc.) to attend and stay in a schools and level the playing field Ensuring education curriculums support the teaching of “Diversity is or could diversity of peoples early in one’s education; be teaching us – if we General education (and all ed.) needs to encompass the breadth and diversity of our national and global world; listen well and want to Mandatory global cross cultural history should be required learn” Encourage learning not just from books but also social interaction with diverse people The beaux art / Western single point of view limited our understanding and knowledge of history not histories… Many times diverse education is seen as going abroad but it is also at home – we have 500 + nations to learn from within the US Learning through diversity of ideas -- at least 2 points of view like Mies vs FLW Diverse is not about how we look, it’s also about how we think about ideas and our values etc.… Quality of education depends on quality of teachers – teachers need to be inspiring and have differing points-of-view to challenge how we see and think Universities need to re-think who they hire…i.e. should everyone be licensed – or some licensed and some not (some Ph.D.’s and some not) so that you get the widest range of opportunities for learning We must celebrate different learning system/styles… more “others” a cohort or a support group… (and different teaching styles)
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