HOW TO IMPROVE NETWORKING SKILLS THROUGH DIVERSITY

1. HOW TO IMPROVE NETWORKING SKILLS THROUGH DIVERSITY Thomas R. Easley

2. 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

3. WHAT TIME IS IT?

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

5. DIVERSITY What is it?

6. DIFFERENCEHow to Value Diversity?

7. 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 ME

8. UP DOWNSBorrowed from National Coalition for Building Institute

9. 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 SOCIETY’S EYES

10. WHAT TIME IS IT?

11. Get into pairings and make your own list

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. WHAT TIME IS IT?

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. NETWORKING • 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. QUESTIONS

26. LEARN MORE National Coalition For Building Institute http://www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/ncbi/ Opening Doors: A Professional and Personal Journey Harvey Lineberry Harvey_lineberry@ncsu.edu Dr. Brenda Alston-Mills Bpam@ncsu.edu