Align & Embrace Learning Journey: Part 1
Cultivating Culturally Responsive Spaces and Practices
Hello! My name is Australyah Coleman and I am a field intern here at Align and Embrace. In my time here, Align and Embrace has taught and shared resources on the importance, meaning, and need for active endorsers, educators, and applicable skills that promote cultural responsiveness. It is important to note that you do not have to be a clinician or on a clinical track to support and educate yourself on cultural responsiveness. I study program evaluation and applied research and I’ve been able to incorporate my new learned practice and techniques in my daily studies and approaches to change on an independent, organizational, or societal level.
The movement Clinicians for Cultures promotes the topic of Cultural Responsiveness and how to best incorporate these into daily practices and spaces through a series of trainings, videos, and resources for young adults, clinicians, and parents/caregivers. Please be understanding when taking time to educate yourself on the importance of being culturally responsive and know that this may be a process that requires vulnerability, humility, and patience. Align and Embrace strives to provide resources, tools, and networking opportunities that help promote, cultivate, and educate individuals on creating culturally responsive environments.
A couple key points when delving deeper into uncovering new cultures, practices, and beliefs:
Cultural Responsiveness is:
Acknowledging that the process may be uncomfortable and THAT IS OKAY!
Entering new spaces and unlearning past beliefs/practices can be challenging and discomforting. But this will allow a shift in your views and practices.
Patience is key. Becoming culturally responsive requires the process of learning and unlearning.
Give yourself grace and take your time. Reach out for help and ask questions to help the educational process.
The willingness to deepen your understanding of various cultures and how societal factors contribute to daily mental, physical, and emotional stressors as well as a decline in health and well-being.
The first step to becoming culturally responsive is being willing to admit to blind spots in your practice or education. Understanding this style of responsiveness will open an individual's awareness of additional stressors for marginalized communities.
Cultural Responsiveness is not:
Cultural COMPETENCE! Cultural competence implies that we are experts in a culture.
Culture is subjective to an individual's experience. No one individual can be an expert of a culture, but of their own experience.
Is not about tokenism or surface-level diversity.
Cultural responsiveness requires more of an effort and understanding than utilizing a “diversity hire” or creating a surface level Diversity program. This requires in depth education and skill-building to provide adequate services to our populations.
A space for assumptions of generalizations to be made.
This is not a space for continued assumptions and generalizations to be made. This is a space to learn and promote safe, inclusive environments. This is a space to unlearn prior assumptions and prejudice that an individual may have had and replace them with healthy practices, skills, and beliefs.
It’s important to continue your education when it comes to practices and responses that are culturally focused. Furthering your education as a clinician is a duty that we owe to our clients and the communities that we are serving in order to provide the most effective and desired resources and outcomes.
For more on Cultural Responsiveness, check out our videos, trainings, and resources on our app and webpage!