Create West Virginia

What does diversity mean to you? Do you see it as something to worry about, or something to aspire to? Does the term make you nervous? Excited? Angry? 

At Create WV, we advocate that our communities and organizations strive for diversity as a treasured asset. Not just for a basic level of equality and fairness, but for a competitive asset for our state. Diversity can lead to more creative solutions, more business startups and more opportunities for all.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Nicole Cutts, a leading executive coach and corporate trainer, will lead the Diversity Track at Create WV 2010. Dr. Cutts will lead participates through a curriculum that will educate us on the process of leveraging diversity and developing cultural competence both generallly and in regards to specific layers of identity.

Please join us at Create WV 2010 and participate in this very special opportunity to expand our definition and pursuit of diversity in West Virginia!

• 10/18, 10:15 AM Diversity 101- Becoming Culturally Competent - Cultural competence is the ability to relate to and communicate with people from diverse geographic, ethnic, racial, cultural, economic, social, and linguistic backgrounds. Becoming culturally competent is a dynamic process that requires cultural knowledge and skill development at all service levels, including policymaking, administration, and practice. Diversity alone does not equal cultural competence. 

• 10/18, 11:30 AM Diversity 101- Raising Your Self Awareness- This presentation offers an introduction to the concepts presented in the book The 10 Lenses: Your Guide to Living and Working in a Multicultural World by Mark Williams (2001). The purpose of this presentation on “The 10 Lenses” is to increase awareness of the perspectives individuals and organizations hold regarding diversity and the behaviors that they exhibit as a result of these perspectives. Participants will take the 10 Lenses Assessment to explore their attitudes towards diversity.

• 10/18, 2:30 PM Wheeling Tour -  Off-site sessions at Temple Shalom
• 2:30 - 3:30 Building Opportunities for All - Pastor Matthew Watts, CEO, HOPE Community Development Corp. There are many existing laws, policies and programs that are not fulfilling their mission. One example is Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act. Funding from existing and new stimulus programs are still available to tap for your local creative initiatives for quality of place, green renovations, education and more.
• • 3:45 - 4:45 The Critical Role of Faith Communities in Building the Creative Community - Learn from religious leaders from diverse religious communities on the relationship between faith and creativity. How can faith communities facillitate improvements in diversity, inclusion, creativity, innovation, education and quality of place? 

• 10/19, 10:15 AM Diversity of Thought-What is it and how do you leverage it?The way each of us thinks, interprets and negotiates the world around us is informed by our identity, culture and experiences. Diversity of thought is the idea that there is more than one way to think about and accomplish things. Being able to leverage diversity of thought—the idea of more-than-one-way— is key to creating an organizational culture of inclusion.

• 10/19, 11:30 AM Leveraging Diversity of Thought-Skill Building (Empathy and Learning to Listen) Empathy is understanding and entering into another's feelings. Possessing empathy is vital to increasing all three components of Cultural Competence. Empathy skills are crucial to increasing inclusivity and leveraging the diversity of communities and work environments. Includes The Imago Dialogue exercise.

Please register today and invite your friends and peers!