Are you ready to dance?
 
In efforts to increase diversity, groups or individuals are at risk to develop a compliance mentality that focuses on numbers only. The numbers game becomes so important that little thought is given to what happens after that. Diversity ought to be pursued because it empowers groups to be better at what they do. Research shows that diverse teams outperform homogenous teams.     
     

A first-ever Latino summit, sponsored by AT&T Michigan,  was held on December 9, 2011 at the MSU Kellogg Center. The Michigan Alianza para Mejoramiento y Avance (MI-ALMA- Michigan Alliance of Latinos Moving Towards Advancement) convened over 100 Michigan Hispanic leaders and professionals for this important event.   The focus was specifically on education and civic engagement, two important areas that can have tremendous impact on the trajectory of the lives of young children. 
 

Enhancing cross-cultural communication
 
As collaboratives and coalitions increase the diverse background of their membership, communication will become more complex. Communication becomes foremost when diverse members in a group work to develop common goals and objectives which call for them to work cooperatively and collaboratively. 
 

Diverse groups and systems building work.

Children "at risk' become children of "high return" when we invest in young children.

The title question is asked in a video presented by Sarah Salguera, Program Director at the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance when hosting a migrant camp visit in Ottawa County.  This two minute and forty five seconds video, “What Happens”, is about a Michigan community that encountered the need to increase acceptance of people from diverse backgrounds.  A second video presented, “Stop Stereotypes Campaign” which is three and a half minutes long, asks, “What do we assume?”
 

We often hear the term multicultural competency.  What does it have to do with the systems work that you do?  What does it mean to those you interact with in a daily basis and to those you hope to engage in the work? In our busy schedules, we do not often take the time to share with each other and learn from and about each other. 

A second group member who participated in a migrant camp visit on May 11, 2011 shares her experience and discoveries made as a result of that visit.

The first migrant camp visit for 2011 took place on May 11th. It was an experience that opened eyes to challenges for this population and opportunities for a community to put pieces of the puzzle together as they work towards building a system that supports school readiness efforts for all children in their community.

Read what one of the group members says about her experience visiting a migrant camp for the first time in Michigan and the value it will bring to the local early childhood work.

When we talk about diversity, chances are greater that we will think of racial or ethnic groups and not as likely to think of those living in poverty as a diverse group. Children and families living in poverty have unique experiences that need to be understood if we are to build early childhood systems that truly meet the needs of all children.