Engage Her: Activating Women and MultiCultural Communities

To help promote participation in the Census, we’re announcing our new Text Message campaign: Text FreeCensus to 53137 and register your name in a drawing to win a FREE iPod Touch! Starting today, we’re announcing it to all our partners and the public.

The Census forms have arrived and millions of people have been sending them in. However, early return rates indicate that there are many areas across the country where the participation rate is 50% or less. So what are you waiting for? You need to mail them back by April 19 to avoid having your home placed on a list to receive visits from Census representatives starting later this month.

Remember: Text FreeCensus to 53137 to register to win a FREE iPod Touch and receive periodic messages.

Last week First Lady Michelle Obama was in Philadelphia to talk about the Let’s Move campaign which is focused on ending the epidemic of childhood obesity in our country in a generation. She was in Philadelphia because that is the city and communities that came together six years ago to take a collaborative stand to fight obesity and provide the roadmap for the rest of our nation. They decided that they needed to bring fresh, health affordable foods to all their communities. To take a collected approach to solve the deep problems and issues that lead to obesity in our communities.

In addition, the government just announced the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. It is a multi-million dollar public and private investment to eliminate food deserts in America within seven years. Food deserts are those areas in our communities throughout the country that lack access to fresh, affordable food and distribution points. It is so powerful to see our government not only talk about the need to fight obesity, but put funding and investment dollars to ensure that we bring real solutions that our citizens across the country in the communities that need it the most. We’ll bringing you more details about this program as it unfolds across the country and into our communities. Kudos to the President and the First Lady for this amazing and profound work.

President Obama gave his State of the Union address to discuss the highlights, challenges and solutions to our nation’s pressing issues. In his speech he acknowledged the challenges but came up with concrete solutions to address our key concerns. Top of our nation’s priority list is the economy and creating jobs to get Americans back to work. While we face many challenges abroad, our key priority is for us to focus domestically on getting Americans employed, providing funding and tax incentives to help our children get educated so that Americans across the country can become productive, pay their bills, plan for their future and get back on their feet again. We need to all pull together as Americans and support our federal, state and local government efforts to support us and create a stronger nation.

A recent report was released from an Independent panel of doctors and health officials that suggests that women should have mammograms starting at age 50 versus the standard guidelines today that recommend mammograms at age 40. This report is being issued by a group that does not set governmental guidelines but provides their recommendations for different agencies, insurance companies, doctors and patients. It is causing a great deal of controversy and push back from established government agencies, medical institutions and even doctors who are recommending that each women’s case history is an individual one. Depending upon the woman’s family history, concern about breast cancer and desire to be pro-active about their health, women need to consult with their private doctors and healthcare providers to determine their best choices. Kathleen Sebellius, Secretary of Health and Human Services has stated that the governmental recommendations and guidelines for Medicare and Medicaid will not change based on this panel’s findings. If you are concerned as a woman about breast cancer and wish to be pro-active then you need to continue to be vigilant about your own health and of your loved ones. Consult with your doctor and seek their recommendations.

Multicultural Dialoguing in the Post “Political-Correctness” Era

By Gabriela Melano, Ed.D.

When I first arrived to the USA in the late 80’s, the Political Correctness Era was in full fledge.   A fascinating advance towards improved integration of people’s of all type, those were times when people paid close attention to the use of language.  For instance, in an interest to promote higher awareness around gender matters, gender inclusive language was proposed and has gradually become more common in every day communication.  Examples of gender inclusive language are the use of “his or her” as opposed to the use a male only or “firefighter” when referring to firemen and firewomen… and the list goes on and on.

I found this focus on language use to be particularly interesting as it gave a focal avenue for entering the often-delicate conversations that increased multicultural understanding entail.  As a result of those dialogues, whether they were carried in the quasi-safety of a classroom setting or the more volatile environment of diversity workshops, it was thrilling to be a witness of enhanced awareness of how language can include or exclude, respect or disrespect people from diverse life paths.

This stage in the field was certainly worthwhile and necessary—and is still relevant, as there are still long ways to go and territories to explore in the development of inclusive language.  However, what I believe we appear to be more ready to embark in our new era is to get deeper and, if we are successful, start building bridges among differences.

Let me share one concrete example of a principle I have found useful when facilitating multicultural dialogue.  I call it the “intent as well as impact principle”.   When talking about differences of any type, it is quite possible (and almost expected) that we may inadvertently offend someone.   Without a need for a guilt-driven feeling, it is often helpful to acknowledge that we did, in fact, say something offensive as it helps to restore some level of trust and comfort in the conversation.  A very similar spirit is also required for those who may be at the receiving end of the offense.  That is, when letting someone know that they stated something offensive to us, we need to keep in mind and heart that, most likely, they have not realized they were disrespectful to us.  Sharing our feelings, thoughts and perspective without guilt or a self-righteous attitude will prove to be critical ingredients to deepen and further those conversations that are so critical for improved multicultural understandings.

An esteemed colleague in the field of race relations, Glenn Singleton, states the following in his workshops on racial matters in education.  “It is hard for an African American man to walk around in society having to constantly prove that he is not a thief nor a murderer. In conversations with Caucasians I have learned to realized that it must be tough for a White person, of any gender, to go about the world having to prove that they are not racist.”

Food for thought: Remember any conversation you had around diversity matters that did not quite end in improved understandings.  Re-track the steps in the dialogue.  Would being aware about the importance of intent and impact have helped?  If so, how differently may have the