AN OVERVIEW OF
DIVERSITY
Dallas L. Holmes, USU Extension
Adapted from an article by Lisa A. Guion, Florida State
University Cooperative Extension, 2005
Defining Diversity

Diversity is a mosaic of people who bring a variety
of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles,
perspectives, values and beliefs as assets to the
groups and organizations with which they interact
Guion, 1999
Assets and Interact

The key is to interact well with the groups served
 Gain
a better sense of what needs need to be
addressed
 How best to deliver the education needed
 Gain insights into their strengths, assets, and skills which
provides insight into solving problems
Develop Respect and Value Diversity


Develop a commitment to gain knowledge and skills
and become personally aware of the most effective
way to serve the client.
Integration of diversity
factors into educational
planning helps ensure
success with the clientele
group.
Different Types of Diversity

Dimension of Diversity
 Primary: characteristics which cannot be
changed – age, ethnicity, gender, physical
abilities, or qualities of race, place of birth, etc.
 Secondary: dimensions which can be changed –
educational background, geographic location,
income, marital status, parental status, religious
beliefs, work experiences, etc.
Changing Demographics

Minority groups increasing at a rapid rate
 Large
scale immigration
 Globalization of goods, services and finances
 Immigration policies
 Census allows people to claim more than one race
Diversity within Diversity

Think about diversity among and within ethnic
groups.
 Socioeconomic factors
 Level of ethnic identification
 Family background
 Upbringing
 Distinctive values and norms and practices within
groups
So What

Based on the changing demographics, you can see
there is clearly a need for Extension programs to
become even more diverse in terms of
participants, volunteers, and staff. Given the fact
that the population from which to draw program
target audiences is changing in a major way,
programming must also change in order to be
more responsive to the needs of all potential
extension clientele.
What Can I Do?

What changes have you noticed in
the demographics of your county or
community where you live/work?
The chances are great that your
county is experiencing similar
changes. If so, how is your
organization/agency responding to
this change in demographics, and is
the response adequate? If not, then
think about what else can be done.