CULTURAL COMPETENCE
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Mason Resources
Certificate in Personal Empowerment for People of Color - can
help students learn more about topics such as Black history, building
community ties, and gaining a positive outlook on the future. In order
to complete the Certificate in Personal Empowerment for People of Color,
students must complete an assessment of their knowledge and skills. Students
then meet with a graduate student in the Self-Development Center to discuss
the results of the assessment and to plan an individualized certificate
program. Finally, students complete 15 hours of work in six content areas.
The content areas are as follows: spiritual growth; self/cultural awareness;
family/group/community connection; individual/group preservation; educational/economic
growth; and positive self-esteem. http://www.gmu.edu/departments/csdc/emp.htm
Counseling Center offers a section regarding Multicultural Services.
Multicultural programs are designed to provide support for individuals
from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. These programs provide
emotional support and outreach programs for students from diverse cultures
and ethnic backgrounds. http://www.gmu.edu/departments/csdc/ms.htm
Cross Cultural Psychology –This web site offers statistics and
facts regarding cultural diversity, and the changes that are occurring.
The web site also offers questions, and additional links to locate more
information. http://classweb.gmu.edu/eshiraev/links.html
Cultural Inquiry Process Web Site (CIP) – presents the Cultural Inquiry Process and provides resources for its use. It was designed to help educators improve education through action research about cultural influences on students. It offers a guidebook that includes research steps, theory from educational anthropology, and puzzlements. Tools and additional resources are available such as Center for Applied Linguistics and Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence. http://classweb.gmu.edu/cip/cip-ind.htm
Cultural Studies consist of 48 credit hours offered for students beyond their masters program. The classes offer an opportunity to discuss theory and methods from several disciplines – anthropology, history, literary studies, philosophy, political economy, and sociology. It offers links to faculty, students, admissions, events and resources. http://culturalstudies.gmu.edu/curriculum/curriculum.html
International Support Seminar – offered by The Counseling Center.
This seminar will provide a supportive atmosphere for students to discuss
experiences and or concerns including: homesickness/emotional; distress
cultural shock; academic demands; study skills; time and money management;
making friends; dating customs, fun things to do, and cultural identity.
To sign-up for the pre-group meeting, stop by the Counseling Center or
call 703-993-2380. http://www.gmu.edu/departments/csdc/iss.htm
Journeys of the Heart - a support group for LGBT students offered by
The Counseling Center. College is a time when many students are coming
to terms with feelings about their sexual identities as gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgendered people. This group offers a safe, supportive,
and confidential setting in which students can discuss coming out, developing
a healthy support system, dating, and integrating their sexual identities
with school and career. http://www.gmu.edu/departments/csdc/journeys.htm
Multicultural Research and Resource Center (MRRC) located at SUB I, Room
225. It fosters and coordinates Multicultural Program Development on
the George Mason University campus. It identifies and distributes resources
on diversity, provides a clearinghouse f or requests related to multicultural
and diversity programs both on and off campus. For more information about
workshops, resources, or the National Coalition Building Institute visit http://www.gmu.edu/student/mrrc/
The Office of Diversity Programs and Services (ODPS) serves students, cultural organizations, and the Mason community by promoting an environment that fosters and values human understanding and diversity. The office seeks to provide services and programs that will instill university-wide appreciation for diverse perspectives and ensure equal levels of inclusion, participation, and retention of under represented student groups in their quest for a quality education. http://www.gmu.edu/student/msaf/
The Office of Equity and Diversity Services ensures that members of the campus community understand their rights and responsibilities to learn and work in an environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, veterans status, disability, sexual orientation, and age through education, training and the resolution of complaints. In addition, the OEDS works collaboratively with other campus entities and the surrounding community to create, design and disseminate programs that bring diverse people together for the purpose of learning about and from one another and to share experiences and ideas. http://www.gmu.edu/equity/
The Office of International Programs and Services strives to encourage global awareness by promoting the integration of international students, researchers, and faculty into the campus community. The office provides guidance to students and scholars studying and working at George Mason University in immigration, employment and taxation, assists with adjustment issues, and fosters cross-cultural understanding through programs highlighting global themes. http://www.gmu.edu/student/oips/
Peer Empowerment Program is a multicultural service of the Counseling Center. The Peer Empowerment Program (PEP) is a Multicultural Counseling Center Program that provides emotional support and outreach services for all students, especially those students who represent underrepresented populations in GMU. The Program provides direct peer support for academic and personal concerns, and indirect support for campus organizations in their efforts to enhance the retention of students through educational, academic, and social development. http://www.gmu.edu/student/peer/
Cultural Inquiry Process Web Site (CIP) – presents the Cultural Inquiry Process and provides resources for its use. It was designed to help educators improve education through action research about cultural influences on students. It offers a guidebook that includes research steps, theory from educational anthropology, and puzzlements. Tools and additional resources are available such as Center for Applied Linguistics and Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence. http://classweb.gmu.edu/cip/cip-ind.htm
Cultural Studies consist of 48 credit hours offered for students beyond
their masters program. The classes offer an opportunity to di
discuss theory and methods from several disciplines – anthropology,
history, literary studies, philosophy, political economy, and sociology.
It offers links to faculty, students, admissions, events and resources. http://culturalstudies.gmu.edu/curriculum/curriculum.html
Multicultural Research and Resource Center (MRRC) located at SUB I, Room 225. It fosters and coordinates Multicultural Program Development on campus. It identifies and distributes resources on diversity, provides a clearinghouse f or requests related to multicultural and diversity programs both on and off campus. For more information about workshops, resources, or the National Coalition Building Institute, visit http://www.gmu.edu/student/mrrc/ <back to top>
National Center for Cultural Competence’s mission is to increase the capacity of health and mental health programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems. The web site is available in both English and Spanish. It offers a lengthy list of web sites focusing on culturally and linguistically approachable service to children, health care and cultural diversity issues, and policy, guidelines and other resources. http://gucchd.georgetown.edu/nccc/links.html <back to top>
Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice’s mission is to support and promote a reoriented national preparedness to foster the development and the adjustment of children with or at risk of developing serious emotional disturbance. One of the topic areas covered is cultural competence, which offers many answers to such questions as to “What is cultural competence?” It also addresses why it is important, what does research say, what others are doing, how does cultural competence benefit children. http://www.air.org/cecp
Center for Linguistic and Cultural Competence in Health Care – The Office of Minority Heath Public Health Service (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) mission is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities. It answers questions such as “What is culturally competent health care?” Policies, initiatives and laws, and additional resources can be found at http://www.omhrc.gov/cultural.
National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) is a nonprofit leadership training organization based in Washington, D.C. NCBI’s proactive approach begins with a corps of community leaders who are taught effective bridge-building skills to combat inter-group conflicts. For more information about training programs, accomplishments, and different chapters, go to http://www.ncbi.org/
At Health.com is the leading provider of mental health information and services for mental health practitioners. The web site consists of psychiatrists, pediatricians, family practitioners, educators, school psychologists, caregivers, and others who meet the diverse needs of those with mental health concerns. At Health addresses cultural competence by helping people to understand the diverse cultures to improve patient care. It discusses the impact of culture on psychosocial adaptations, and provides guidelines for providing care to diverse populations. Additional links will point towards various pertinent journal articles on the subject. http://www.athealth.com.
Cultural Competence Online covers what cultural competence is, then offers valuable online resources to services and tools for businesses in a changing multicultural environment, training resources, and additional information to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors and individual empowerment. It offers policy and standards on cultural competence and health. Additional resources include books in health and mental health at http://www.culturalcompetence2.com/.
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation initiates and supports worldwide efforts to abolish nuclear weapons, to strengthen international law and institutions, to use technology in ways that are both responsible and sustainable, and to empower youth to create a more peaceful world. The foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan international education and advocacy organization. The web site contains featured articles and actions, upcoming events, and an opportunity for a free newsletter. http://www.wagingpeace.org/
Religion-online.org offers more than 5,200 articles and chapters of topics which include Old and New Testament, Theology, Ethics, History and sociology of Religion, Communication and Cultural Studies, Pastoral Care, Counseling, etc. http://www.religion-online.org/
Third Wave Foundation – pushes boundaries in society and opens doors of equality and justice. The foundation helps support the leadership of young women ages 15 to 30 by providing resources, public education, and relationship building opportunities. http://www.thirdwavefoundation.org/
Books and Other Readings
Bornstein, Kate. My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real
Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely, Routledge Press, 1998.
Boylan, Jennifer Finney. She’s Not There” A Life in Two Genders, Broadway Books, 2003.
Brown, Cherie and George, Mazza. Leading Diverse Communities: A How-To Guide for Moving from Healing Into Action by Cherie Brown and George Mazza, Josey-Bass, 2005.
Bush, Melanie. Breaking the Code of Good Intentions: Everyday Forms of Whiteness. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2004.
Kivel, Paul. Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Social Justice. Canada: New Society Publishers, 2002.
Hooks, Bell. Where We Stand: Class Matters, Routledge Press, 2000.
Hooks, Bell. Feminism is For Everybody: Passionate Politics, Seal Press, 2000.
Hull, Gloria, Patricia Bell Scott and Barbara Smith. All the Women are White, All the Blacks are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave: Black Women’s Studies. New York: The Feminist Press, 1982.
Reagon, Bernice Johnson. “Coalition Politics: Turning the Century.” In Race, Class and Gender: An Anthology, edited by Margaret L. Anderson and Patricia Hill Collins, 54-56. New York: Wadsworth, 1995.
Tatum, B.D. Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race. New York: Basic Books, 1997.
Tea, Michelle. Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class. Seal Press, 2004.
Wilchins, Riki Ann. Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender, Firebrand Books, 1997 <back to top>