Philosophy and Approach to Cultural Competency

MEDC's training philosophy and approach is embedded in our belief that cultural competency is a part of a continuum that can lead to an anti-racist/ anti-oppression movement for social change.  Intersecting cultural competency with anti-racism work is inextricably a tool for social justice work. Our emphasis on race is derived from MEDC’s two decades of advocacy related to social justice and equity in the interest of people of color. Race is one of the primary factors that contribute to the gross disparity of equal access to human and health resources. The tools and skills used in the training to examine institutional racism and privilege can be applied to understand other forms of oppression.

Workshop Description

This interactive two-day training workshop provides a framework for analyzing institutional power and priviledge, and a foundation for implementing cultural competency.

Workshop Goals

• Present the concept of cultural competency and its guiding principles for implementation.
• Establish the importance for continuously building our skills towards cultural competence and recognize the value-added outcomes for the organization.
• Present a framework in which to understand race and the impacts of institutional power and privilege.
• Engage participants in self-examination, both personally and organizationally, towards the goal of institutionalizing culturally competent policies, procedures, practices, programs and services.
• Reinforce organizational and individual commitment by beginning to develop individual and organizational action plans for increasing cultural competence.

Training Topics

Fundamentals of cultural competence:

• definition of cultural competency
• benefits of cultural competency
• guiding principles of cultural competency

Framework of analysis for understanding institutional racism, power and privilege:

• a common language for social change
• privilege and distancing behaviors
• strategies to build social justice

Implementation of cultural competency:

• personal assessment
• agency assessment
• action planning

Registration Fee: $225
Lunch is included with registration.
Discounts available for MEDC members and organizations sending 3 or more participants.
Please click here to download the registration form.