Back in high school, I barely had any opportunities to have diverse experiences. I went to a school that was 93% white, which was a clearly limited environment to learn about other people's experiences. Sure, we were an interesting town, juxtaposing city landscapes and farming communities. But, honestly there is little you can do to escape that overwhelming whiteness.
[more]Growing up, I have been fortunate enough to have a family that has practiced Native American culture and values. Because of this, specific values and practices are engrained in my daily life. I haven't had to worry about practicing my culture and spirituality at Dartmouth because of the friend groups and community that supports me. I feel comfortable enough to express that part of me.
[more]Culture is a complicated and multi-dimensional construct involving myriad identities; real and imagined. Broad concepts such as National Identity are often built upon stereotypes revolving around nationality, country of birth, country of residence, language or place affiliation, but also include ideas about race, ethnicity, religion etc. More specific constructs, such as ideas of community or family culture also touch upon these larger ideas but also include elements of privilege, perceived ability, gender identity, birth order, and sibling interaction.
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As society becomes more interconnected than ever through evolving technologies and new advancements, investing in cross-cultural communication has become a priority globally. The past western ethnocentric views that dominated global decision-making no longer hold their place in a 21st-century context. Rather, with more diverse participants joining the global policy-making sphere, inviting and maintaining culturally-sensitive conversations have become critical to maintaining and developing the global agenda as a whole.
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On November 12, Amanda Donald-Phillips gave a presentation on how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives can be improved to better serve black women.
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