Beyond the Rhetoric – Beyond the Conference
By Sherre Wesley
To walk into a business meeting and be one of many people who are “other;” To work in a place that is able to hire and retain workers of color because it appreciates, respects, and aligns with their values; To understand – in advertising, marketing, and media – that a person of color can represent “Everywoman/Everyman;” And to know that not all Asians or Latinos or Native Americans are the same. These are goals; these are topics; these are the future as envisioned by participants in AAUW’s recent conference on multiculturalism. Beyond the Rhetoric is not only the name of the conference; it is the goal of the Poughkeepsie Branch’s diversity committee.
In early October, over 220 people gathered at Casperkill Golf Club to explore issues of multicultural diversity in business, cultural competency, education, health and human services, and the media. Participants represented government, major corporations, small businesses, education, and not-for-profits, and 125 people provided us with feedback on their experience. It is a credit to all who worked on the conference that a whooping 99% were either very or somewhat satisfied with the conference overall. Highest among the areas where respondents were very satisfied were the networking opportunities (83%), keynote speaker, David Tulin (81%), and the facilitators and panelists (76%). Highlights of the feedback are discussed below, along with some ideas of what they might mean for us.
If we extrapolate from those who completed the evaluation form, it appears that most participants have had some, but not a lot of, experience attending diversity related conferences.
As you see from the above chart, in each roundtable area the majority of respondents had attended 3 or fewer such conferences. When all roundtables are combined, this was the first diversity-related conference for 21% or the respondents, and 56% of respondents had attended between one and three other conferences on diversity. Therefore, our audience was people relatively new to the topic. The relative inexperience of participants with the topic, along with the magnitude of the demographic changes in area, suggests the need and an opportunity for further work in the area.
People came to the conference for many important reasons – some personal, some professional, and some organizational. 59% said that their specific reason for attending was absolutely fulfilled, and an additional 41% stated that their reason was fulfilled, but just not completely. In total, 100% of the respondents had their main reason for attending at least partially fulfilled.
No single reason for attending was cited by a majority of the participants, but the reason cited most was for personal growth and development.
When combined, the areas that focus on the personal (networking, personal growth and development, and opportunity to contribute and be heard) account for 46% of the responses; content related areas (content and speakers) account for 29%; and best practices and professional obligations were the reasons 25% of the respondents attended the conference.
Beyond the Rhetoric was sub-titled “Understanding how multiculturalism can help your personal, professional and organizational growth,” and the evaluations suggest there is much interest – and much work to be done – in the personal arena. In addition to the personal emphasis as a reason for attending, participants found the networking to be the single most helpful thing to them personally. Many also found it helpful to get others’ perspectives, be part of a dedicated community, and meet and bond with new people around common issues.
The interest in being part of a network and learning with peers was also evident when people reported on their periods of greatest engagement. Most felt most engaged during the roundtables.
The roundtable format was selected to allow give and take, to listen and to be heard, and to take advantage of the vast wealth of knowledge in each group – with other participants as well as panelists and facilitators. While there were some specific suggestions about the appropriate level of facilitator guidance and the need to stay focused on diversity within the content areas, the roundtables proved to be an appropriate emphasis. 68% of respondents were very satisfied, and an additional 28% were somewhat satisfied with the roundtables.
The roundtable emphasis proved to be a good one, as was the selection of David Tulin as the keynote speaker. Tulin started the day with energy and what one person called, “a high level of expectation.” Respondents found his exercises as well as his words to be memorable and meaningful. Tulin’s challenge to break our self-fulfilling prophesies about other people was taken up in comments in several roundtables, as was his message about the resistance there is to change.
There were many positive aspects to the conference, but not all was perfect. Recycling, going “green,” and making sure we model what we preach are challenges. Some people wanted to attend more than one roundtable, while others appreciated the depth of experience they got by attending both morning and afternoon session on the same issue.
The active and engaged group of participants in the conference had a number of suggestions as to what areas and topics need to be better addressed in Dutchess County. For organizational purposes, their suggestions have been grouped as follows:
· Involve Youth and Youth Issues
· Explore Additional Dimensions of Diversity
· Continue and Deepen Discussion about Cultural Competency
· Enhance Workplace Environment
· Further Education
· Provide Information and Access to Resources
· Educate and Advocate for Better Communication, Visibility, and Media Relations
The conference and the feedback make it clear that diversity is an area where there is both the local interest and need for more work. Participants made a number of comments that centered around the personal aspects of diversity work and the prerequisite change. They want the opportunity to network and share both within and across professions and areas of expertise.
In his closing, Tulin cautioned that “People will revert to their pre-change behaviors if there is not intrinsic or extrinsic motivation to keep and strengthen change.” Conference participants showed a particular desire to work on the intrinsic motivators which will help make and sustain change. Personal change will lead to professional, organizational, and community change. It will take us ever closer to being what Tulin calls a “culturally competent community.”
As a follow-up to the conference, approximately 20 people met at Vassar College on October 20 to explore how we can further promote a dynamic and productive multicultural community in Dutchess County. Five people agreed to contact the participants in each of the five roundtables, and to set up a first meeting with those interested in continuing the dialogue. We are happy to note that these people also extend our network of possible partners. They are:
· Business – Sharone Wellington-deAnda, Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce
· Cultural Competency – Wendy Maragh-Taylor, Arlington Central School District and AAUW
· Education – Teresa Quinn, Vassar College
· Health & Human Services – Geeta Desai, AAUW
· Media – Sherre Wesley, Dutchess BOCES and AAUW
In addition to the five topic areas, the diversity committee is exploring ways to provide forums or other opportunities for dialogue. They will be designed to help people to learn, to explore, to network, and to develop trust and personal connections across differences.
Beyond the Rhetoric made an important statement to our community about the mission and values of AAUW, and we have a core of people within the Poughkeepsie Branch committed to promoting diversity. However, the need is great. If you are looking for another opportunity to work with stimulating women in an area of increasing importance, we invite you to join the diversity committee. To get involved, contact Geeta Desai (297-7589, geetadesai@optonline.net), Wendy Maragh-Taylor (473-7484, wmaraghtaylor@acsdny.org) or me, Sherre Wesley (462-4945, swesley@optonline.net). The work is ongoing, and our commitment extends Beyond the Rhetoric.