As you end your year and begin thinking about the next, I encourage you to use this time to engage in self and organizational reflection. Try this activity out to help you in the process:
Write your name at the top of a piece of paper.
List the 10 values that you have about diversity. For example, I value learning about different cultures. I value being challenged when I'm not diversity minded. I value being inclusive with others, etc.
Renumber those top 10 values in order of importance - 1 should be your top value - 10 should be the lowest on your list.
On a new piece of paper, write down your top 3. Don't worry about the other seven.
Now, use the top 3 to write a personal mission statement related to your diversity journey.
Take the activity one step further and create a personal to-do list to help you live out your mission. For example, if learning about a different culture is important, what can you do to infuse this learning into your daily walk?
In three months, repeat the activity, without looking at the original. Once you've done this, compare the two and note the progress that you made.
As an end-of-year activity, try this same activity with your staff to conduct a mission audit of your organization or department. As a teaching or departmental staff, what are you doing to further diversity work at a systemic level? How does your mission dovetail with the larger, organizational mission? What can you do to weave diversity work into the fabric of your work mission?
Kinect Education Group has a variety of training tools available to help you in your quest to further diversity education for faculty, staff and students. Check out our product page. If you're interested in specialized training, we have you covered. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you with your next professional development or in-service training!
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