Self-Awareness for Working in a Multicultural World


Course Description

This interactive session will help you develop the skills you need to communicate successfully in this increasingly global and diverse world. During the session, you will engage in activities that will improve your ability to form authentic cross-cultural relationships, not only with other individuals but also with different groups. You will, as a result, enhance your capacity to lead work teams, manage conflict, and understand issues of organizational change.

You will identify behaviors that encourage a learning environment, one that promotes open, non-defensive communication of ideas and feelings, appropriate self-disclosure, and mutual respect. During the session, you will also be able to:

  1. identify your own multiple identities and statuses
  2. identify your own privilege and power
  3. develop your awareness of the multiple dimensions across which similarities and differences occur within groups of people
  4. enhance your own awareness of assumptions about others that are derived at least in part from your attributions of others’ similarity and difference from yourself
  5. explore the effects of your multiple identities, statuses, power, and privilege upon your lives and opportunities, and professional relationships
  6. enhance your ability to manage the daily micro-inequalities, insults and aggressions that impact work environment, and individual and organizational effectiveness
  7. examine the potential meanings and consequences of your multiple identities and statuses, privilege, and power in your ongoing professional development as well as in your relationships with professional colleagues; and
  8. identify your own learning needs with regard to cultural competence in professional development and organizational life
Presented by Cheryl L. Franks, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Diversity, Human Rights and Social Justice, Columbia University School of Social Work

Time and Location

Thursday, November 9
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Interchurch Center, Room 1220
475 Riverside Drive (at 120th Street)


How to Register

Use the Registration Form.

If a user doesn't have a UNI, or is registering for a user other than her/himself, he or she may select the phrase "I Don't Have a UNI" in the lower left hand corner of the log in box.