05/01/2024

Promoting Cross-Cultural Awareness Through a Multicultural Calendar

By Paolo Varquez and Ruben Britt

Did you know that May is Military Appreciation Month? Or that May 14 is Hmong American Day? And May 19 is World Day for Cultural Diversity! Would it be good to have a yearly calendar that lists more than just US holidays? Yes, a Multicultural Calendar for career development professionals has several purposes, increases allyship, and is expected to grow in the future. The new calendar, created by the Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion (DICI) committee, can be found on the NCDA Social Justice webpage in the Resources section of www.NCDA.org.

Purpose of a Multicultural Calendar

A Multicultural Calendar highlights significant dates, holidays, observances, and celebrations from various cultures, religions, and communities around the world. By having this calendar, career development professionals can effectively acknowledge and honor the identities and experiences present among those we serve, our communities, and everyone working in our field. Additionally, this calendar could increase:

• Cultural Awareness and Appreciation: By acknowledging and celebrating diverse cultural traditions, we aim to increase awareness and appreciation for the richness of cultures and subcultures among those we serve.
• Inclusivity and Representation: The calendar will feature a wide range of cultural events and celebrations to ensure that all members of our community feel represented and included. By recognizing the diversity of our members' backgrounds and experiences, we create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.
• Education and Learning: Since career development is rooted on Western philosophies and theories, this calendar will serve as an educational tool to help our members learn about different cultural practices, customs, and traditions outside the United States. By providing information and resources on various cultural events, we aim to promote cross-cultural understanding and enhance cultural competence within our community.
• Sense of Belonging: Ultimately, the Multicultural Calendar is designed to foster a sense of belonging and community among our members. By recognizing and celebrating the diversity of our community, we hope to create a space where everyone feels valued, respected, and included.

Allyship

Acknowledging the culture and identities of those who are served also help with the rapport building process. A diversity calendar exposes career development professionals to cultures and identities that we may not be familiar with and encourages learning more about those groups for our own professional development. The learning process can eventually turn into being an ally to various cultures and identities, particularly those that have historically been oppressed. LeMaire et al. (2020) found the following roles for allyship: (1) speaking out about and against prejudice, (2) willingness to learn more and explore personal biases, and (3) creating an environment in which individuals from oppressed groups’ voices are heard and valued. If clients that are served feel safe and supported from the environment that career development professionals create, clients are more likely to improve their situation.

Call to Contribute

Here are a few suggested methods you can employ to use a multicultural calendar:

• Selecting posters for office walls, computer wallpapers, and Zoom backgrounds
• Initiating regular discussions at monthly staff meetings
• Planning programs and events such as bringing in guest speakers, community resources, workshops, and cultural events
• Highlighting people who have positively impacted the world who share those identities.

The DICI committee is excited to launch this initiative and invites all NCDA members to participate in creating and shaping our Multicultural Calendar which will evolve over time. Therefore, please check the NCDA Social Justice page (scroll to Calendar). Your input and contributions are invaluable as we work together to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the NCDA. If there are other dates that are missing that you feel belong on the calendar, please contact the following individuals listed below who are part of the DICI Online Resource Subcommittee.

Reference

LeMaire, K. L., Miller, M., Skerven, K., & Nagy, G. A. (2020). Allyship in the academy. Navigating Careers in the Academy: Gender, Race, and Class, 3(1), 6-26.

Paolo Varquez is a member of the NCDA Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion (DICI) committee. paolovarquez@gmail.com

Ruben Britt is a member of the NCDA Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion (DICI) committee. britt@rowan.edu