If today’s kids don’t learn how to meaningfully engage with those from other cultural backgrounds, they’re going to struggle in tomorrow’s global work world. Janet Penn, executive director of Youth LEAD, reveals some steps parents can take to make cross-cultural understanding second nature to their kids — and themselves.
We live in a rapidly globalizing world. That means the ability to meaningfully engage with people from other cultures — once seen as a “nice to have” that revealed your level of sophistication and, perhaps, political correctness — is becoming a “must-have” almost overnight. Chances are, your kids go to school with and will one day work with people from a dizzying array of races, beliefs and backgrounds. If they can connect across these cultural differences, they’ll be far more likely to lead successful lives, Janet Penn says.
“Feeling comfortable with those who are different — and more to the point, being able to have tough conversations about these differences — has become a critical life skill,” says Penn, executive director of Youth LEAD (www.youthleadonline.org). “You can’t collaborate and innovate if you can’t get beyond surface relationships. You must be able to “agree to disagree” while still respecting the other person and learning something new. These are tough skills that are typically not taught in school.”
Left to our own devices, most of us make one of three choices, Penn says. One, we talk only with like-minded people. Two, we argue; we try to convince a person with a different point of view he or she is wrong. Three, we simply don’t talk about the elephant in the room — it’s too hot to touch. There is another choice but it requires a dedicated effort and the opportunity to practice the appropriate skills — and that’s where most people fall short.
“Most of us have paid lip service to the benefits of cross-cultural understanding and the notion that ‘diversity is desirable,’” Penn reflects. “But this feel-good sentiment does little to effect real change in behavior. What kids need is exposure and practice — exposure to people from other cultures and practice in talking about sensitive issues without getting upset or combative. It’s the only way to get comfortable with having meaningful interactions with those who are different.”
Youth LEAD provides both the exposure and the practice. This non-profit organization based in Sharon, Mass., engages a diverse group of area high school students to inspire them to reflect upon their cultural values and beliefs, connect with others across differences and act together to address local and global challenges. These young people — teens from diverse religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds — form rich friendships while learning valuable skills on civil dialogue, leadership, cooperation and more.
Indeed, Youth LEAD’s approach is so successful it is being featured in a major new web initiative by Harvard’s Pluralism Project (www.pluralism.org/interfaith/practices). America’s Interfaith Infrastructure Study, a pilot initiative of the Pluralism Project, documents the growth of interfaith initiatives across the United States and considers the implications of our multi-religious reality for citizenship and leadership today and in the future.
Clearly, cross-cultural understanding is a hot topic. So how can we as parents foster it in our own kids? Penn says it’s really about seizing “teachable moments” as they arise and also about creating more of those opportunities for our kids. For example:
• First, strive to get out of your own “comfort zone.” When kids see you socialize only with others just like you, they will question your credibility. You don’t have to go to absurd lengths to create your own rainbow coalition of friends — that will seem fake and contrived — but kids need to see you’re open minded and not “rigid.” Still, there’s nothing wrong with expanding your social circle a little. As your child learns, you’ll learn also. This is a journey you undertake together.
“Be curious!” Penn says. “Reach out and introduce yourself to someone new. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to mispronounce their name! You might make an effort to befriend the Muslim parent of your child’s classmate or the Jewish parent of his soccer teammate. Let the relationship unfold naturally and definitely accept any invitations, especially those that include the kids.”
• Don’t avoid controversial topics. When a subject that makes you uncomfortable comes up in conversation, especially with someone who holds a different viewpoint, don’t do the subject-change tango. Instead, model the “healthy” way to disagree. Here are just a few techniques Youth LEAD uses in its dialogue training classes:
*Use “I” statements to personalize thoughts and feelings. Let’s say, for example, you get pulled into a discussion with someone who adamantly opposes homosexuals serving in the military: “I have a brother who’s gay. I find it upsetting when I hear inflammatory statements about gay people joining the military. I have great respect for anyone who puts his or her life on the line for our country.” Using “I” statements prevents the conversation from becoming accusatory.
*Ask the right questions. This will help you get to the heart of others’ core principles and beliefs. If we can learn to ask questions out of genuine interest in another person, it can turn a conversation in a new direction. For example, you might ask, “Do you have a personal connection to this topic?” Or, “What about your life experience has influenced your beliefs?”
*Remain silent long enough to listen. In order to benefit from the questions mentioned above, you have to listen deeply to the other person’s answers. Remain silent. Listen rather than thinking about the next thing you’re going to say. When you become an active listener, you ask better questions. Eventually the other person comes to see you do care about what they have to say. You might not be able to reach a complete agreement, but you can reach mutual respect.
“These tips work with all sorts of controversial issues, not just in ‘diversity’ situations,” Penn says. “Use them whenever you have any sort of disagreement with anyone, about any subject.”
• Watch the news with your children. When you see a story that centers on a cultural issue, discuss it. Ask kids what they know about Islam or Passover or the African American community. Engage them in discussions. Being active observers of the news is a good way to gauge kids’ attitudes and those of their friends and to share your own.
“This is no substitute for face-to-face interaction with people from other cultures, of course, but it is a good starting point,” Penn reflects. “We tend to live in our own insulated little bubbles, and the news serves as our window on the larger world. Knowing what the issues are opens the door to conversations that can result in deeper understanding and acceptance of other cultures.”
• If you witness an episode of cultural or racial insensitivity, take a stand. Don’t stand quietly by and listen to a disparaging remark aimed at a woman wearing a hijab, for instance. You might gently say to the perpetrator, “Imagine how it would feel if the shoe were on the other foot. Perhaps you don’t know how hurtful your words can be.” This is the right thing to do and it’s especially valuable if kids are present.
“If you don’t feel safe confronting a rude or even hostile person, you can certainly offer a kind word to the recipient of the remark,” Penn says. “If it seems relevant, turn the event into a learning experience. ‘I’m sorry that man was so insensitive. I can see your feelings are hurt and I want you to know not everyone in our city has that kind of attitude. Can you tell me a little about your faith?’”
• Seek out opportunities to take kids on a “faith” field trip. Attending a worship service of a faith different from your own can be a tremendously educational and enriching experience. Of course, it’s not always advisable to “drop in” at a place of worship if you don’t know anyone. However, if you have a personal relationship with someone from a different tradition, you might ask if you and your family can be their guest. That way you can learn about what’s going on and be comfortable walking in the door.
“My own organization has a new program called ‘Sacred Networks,’” Penn says. “Youth LEADers are creating a database of people who are willing to invite others to their Seder, Easter dinner or Halaqa and then matching them with families who would like the experience.”
• If finances allow, make plans to visit another country on vacation. This can be an amazing learning experience for you and your kids, and traveling abroad can be surprisingly affordable if you do your research. However, if you determine this kind of adventure is out of your price range, visiting an ethnic section of a nearby city can be a good substitute. Try out restaurants, shops, street festivals and more. The idea is to immerse kids in culturally diverse environments. There may even be an opportunity to turn this into a school project, perhaps for extra credit.
“You want to get kids comfortable with the reality there are many different ways to live and all have their own unique beauty,” Penn says. “As they explore the sights and sounds and flavors of a different culture, they will find people are alike in so many ways — they all respond to a smile, a friendly greeting and a kind word.”
• Host a foreign exchange student. This is another good way to expose kids to the customs, traditions, languages and culture of another country. Having someone in your home 24/7 almost necessitates a certain “depth” to your relationship — after all, this is a person you and your kids will laugh with, learn with and hopefully hold meaningful conversations with. Lifelong friendships can grow from these experiences.
• Encourage kids to join organizations that bring different cultures together to interact and learn from each other. Youth LEAD is just one of many organizations that brings young people from different cultures together for mutual education and meaningful interaction. As mentioned earlier, Harvard’s Pluralism Project identified interfaith groups in cities across America, and there are many youth leadership programs that foster understanding across differences.
“Look to see what your community has to offer,” Penn urges. “I would urge you to look for an organization that moves beyond educational and social purposes. What’s great about Youth LEAD is our teens learn the skills they need to truly connect across differences — and then they translate those skills into action. As the name suggests, they really do take the lead in the projects they work on. While they do have adult guidance, they do the hard work themselves — and that makes the difference because it reflects how the real world operates.
“This Memorial Day weekend, Youth LEADers are facilitating TIDE, a three-day diversity education conference on the campus at Northeastern University,” she adds. “All workshops are planned and led by high school students.”
• Scan newspapers and community calendars for cultural and multicultural events. You might be surprised at what’s out there. Many communities, non-profit organizations, worship centers and schools host events that are free or open to families at a very low cost. Whether it’s a Japanese cherry blossom festival, a speaking presentation by an African dignitary, an Islamic art exhibit or an interfaith gathering, you’ll likely find an event your entire family can enjoy.
“Youth LEADers periodically host events aimed at bringing people from different faiths together and find they are well attended and extremely popular,” Penn notes. “For example, we hosted a Sharing Sacred Seasons community event to commemorate the intersection of Ramadan, the Jewish High Holidays and the Hindu holiday of Navratri. Hundreds of people came, and it was a powerful experience for everyone.”
You’ll notice some of Penn’s suggestions are fun and easy. Others require a bit more effort and commitment. But all of them open up a whole new world to kids and, yes, their parents too.
“It’s human nature to get stuck in a comfortable rut,” Penn says. “Change takes effort and sometimes it means confronting our own prejudices and assumptions. Yet, taking action to expose kids to a broader worldview is always worth doing, not only for them but for us as well. What many parents find surprising when they take this journey is not how well their kids respond, but how much richer and more interesting their own lives become.”
About Youth LEAD:
Youth LEAD Inc. was founded in 2004 to inspire and motivate youth to reflect upon their values and beliefs, connect with others across differences, and act together to address local and global challenges. YL’s Leadership Program trains high school students to reach across religious, ethnic and racial divides to increase understanding and to turn fear of differences into hope and positive action. YL teen leaders have developed and facilitated community dialogues, celebrations, and school programs for more than 4,000 people. They have presented workshops at national conferences in Chicago, Kansas City, Cambridge and Atlanta, and international conferences in India and Jordan. In the spring of 2011, YL teens were featured on Linda Ellerbee’s Nick News segment “Freedom to Believe…or Not” as an example of teens “waging peace” in the name of religion (available on www.nick.com/videos/nick-news-videos). Youth LEAD has just been identified by the Pluralism Project at Harvard University as a promising practice based upon their unique focus on building skills youth need to engage across differences and that the program is replicable across the United States.
