Navigating Difference
Community Building, Cultural Competency, and Social Justice
The Navigating Difference curriculum draws from several theoretical frameworks: organizational
development, intercultural communication, and social justice with a special focus on
understanding poverty in America. The curriculum is carefully designed and sequenced to open
both minds and hearts, and to prompt behavior change.
What do recent participants say about the Navigating Difference?
“It was an amazing experience. One of the best training classes I have attended.”
“Thank you for opening doors that I have only been looking through.”
Workshop One
Module One: Cultural Self Awareness
Teaching Objectives:
1. Participants will learn how to recognize and manage cognitive bias “in the moment”
2. Participants will explore both personal and organizational culture and practice remaining
curious when culture plays out during difficult conversations and uncomfortable situations
Summary of Concepts and Activities:
 Definitions, Theoretical Approaches, and the Identity Wheel
 Poverty 101 – Shattering Myths about People living in Poverty
 Generalizations, Stereotypes, and Mindfulness
 Value Orientation and the Cultural Iceberg
Suggested Reading(s):
“What are the essential cultural value patterns?” in Understanding Intercultural
Communication, Second Edition, by S. Ting-Toomey and L.C.Chung, 2012, Oxford University
Press
“See Poverty, Be the Difference” by Donna M. Beegle, Communication Across Barriers, Inc.
PO Box 23071, Tigard, OR 97281-3071, http://www.combarriers.com
Credits:
 Identity Wheel exercise adapted from Gardenswartz, L. and A. Rowe, 2002. Diverse teams
at work: Capitalizing on the power of diversity. Alexandrea, VA: Society for Human
Resource Management.

Theoretical Approaches to Diversity Work developed by M. Huskey, Washington State
University

Poverty 101: Donna Beegle, Communication Across Barriers,Inc
The Navigating Difference Training is presented by Oregon State University Extension in conjunction with and with permission from the Board of
Regents, Washington State University. The Navigating Difference Part One curriculum is adapted from the work of Mary Katherine Deen, Melynda
Huskey, and Louise Parker of WSU Extension, Stella Ting-Toomey of California State University, Fullerton, and Donna Beegle of Communicating Across
Barriers, Inc.
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Navigating Difference
Community Building, Cultural Competency, and Social Justice

Stereotypes versus Generalizations exercise adapted from LeBaron, M., 2003. Bridging
cultural conflicts: A new approach for a changing world. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Value Orientation exercise adapted from Ting-Toomey, S., and L.C.Chung, 2005.
Understanding intercultural communication. Los Angeles: Roxbury.
What do recent participants say about the Navigating Difference?
“Navigating Difference gives you some great ideas about how to build stronger teams
more ready to benefit from diversity of all team members.”
“I will take what I have learned and pass it on to friends that would not have encountered
this training.”
Module Two: Cultural Understanding
Teaching Objectives:
1. Participants will understand the developmental nature of cultural competency and learn to
make sense of and how to honor our individual and group reactions to differences
2. Participants will learn to describe and honor issues and concerns which arise when values,
beliefs, assumptions, and practices differ from those of the dominant culture
3. Participants will begin to recognize the ways that personal and organizational cultures has
impact and affects participation in our programs and services
Summary of Concepts and Exercises:
 Poverty 101 – Shattering Myths about People living in Poverty (continued)
 Developmental Models of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS)
 DMIS Reflection Questions
Suggested Reading(s):
“Becoming Inter-culturally Competent” by Milton Bennett
Credits:
 Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity exercise adapted from M.R. Hammer and
M.J. Bennett, 1998, Intercultural development inventory manual. Portland, Oregon:
Intercultural Communication Institute.
What do recent participants say about the Navigating Difference?
“The material was synthesized from a wide variety of sources resulting in a rich learning
experience. The material was mature and relevant.”
The Navigating Difference Training is presented by Oregon State University Extension in conjunction with and with permission from the Board of
Regents, Washington State University. The Navigating Difference Part One curriculum is adapted from the work of Mary Katherine Deen, Melynda
Huskey, and Louise Parker of WSU Extension, Stella Ting-Toomey of California State University, Fullerton, and Donna Beegle of Communicating Across
Barriers, Inc.
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Navigating Difference
Community Building, Cultural Competency, and Social Justice
“Navigating Difference is designed to both educate you and to transform you. In taking the
class, you learn about yourself and others in ways that enhance your humanity.”
Workshop Two
Module Three: Culture-Specific Knowledge
Teaching Objectives
1. Participants will learn and practice specific strategies for gathering information about
cultures, communities or new target audiences
2. Participants will learn how to identify appropriate cultural guides and practice building
productive relationships with them
Summary of Concepts and Activities:
 Sources of Culture-Specific Knowledge
 Community mapping
 Working Effectively with Cultural Guides
Credits:
 Community Mapping exercise adapted from Gonzalez, V., J. Gonzalez, V. Freeman, and
B. Howard-Pitney, 1991. Health promotion in diverse cultural communities. Stanford,
California: Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention.
What do recent participants say about the Navigating Difference?
“It was important to step away from work and make the time commitment to fully engage
this program.”
“It’s easy to assume that you know all about diversity, but this training makes you think
more deeply and open your eyes to the world around you, even if you are skeptical about
whether it is worth it. It is worth it.”
Module Four: Cultural Interactions
Teaching Objectives:
1. Participants will recognize factors impacting successful intercultural communication and
practice managing them
The Navigating Difference Training is presented by Oregon State University Extension in conjunction with and with permission from the Board of
Regents, Washington State University. The Navigating Difference Part One curriculum is adapted from the work of Mary Katherine Deen, Melynda
Huskey, and Louise Parker of WSU Extension, Stella Ting-Toomey of California State University, Fullerton, and Donna Beegle of Communicating Across
Barriers, Inc.
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Navigating Difference
Community Building, Cultural Competency, and Social Justice
2. Participants will practice using concepts of intercultural verbal and nonverbal
communication with special emphasis on communicating with people living in poverty
3. Participants will practice managing intercultural conflicts mindfully
Summary of Concepts and Activities:
 Intercultural Case Studies
 Poverty 101 – Oral versus Print Cultures
 Cross-cultural communication styles
 Nonverbal communication across cultures
 The Reception (simulation)
 Stumbling blocks to intercultural communications
 Nacirema (simulation)
 Eye of the Beholder Exercise
 Intercultural Conflict Styles
Suggested Reading(s):
Stumbling Blocks to Intercultural Communication Exercise adapted from Barna, L. M., 1997,
editors L.A. Samovar and R. E. Porter. Belmont: Wadsworth. Pp. 370-378
Credits:
 Mindful Intercultural Non Verbal Communication exercise adapted from Ting-Toomey, S.,
and L.C.Chung, 2005. Understanding intercultural communication. Los Angeles: Roxbury

Intercultural Conflict styles exercise adapted from Hammer, M.R., 2002. The intercultural
conflict style (ICS) inventory, self-published.

Poverty 101: Donna M. Beegle, http://www.combarriers.com
Workshop Three
Module Four: Cultural Interactions (Continued)
Module Five: Cultural Sensitivity
Teaching Objectives:
1. Participants will begin a deeper exploration of the concept of unearned advantage
(sometimes referred to as “privilege”)
2. Participants will recognize and develop new strategies for putting privilege to work in their
daily lives
The Navigating Difference Training is presented by Oregon State University Extension in conjunction with and with permission from the Board of
Regents, Washington State University. The Navigating Difference Part One curriculum is adapted from the work of Mary Katherine Deen, Melynda
Huskey, and Louise Parker of WSU Extension, Stella Ting-Toomey of California State University, Fullerton, and Donna Beegle of Communicating Across
Barriers, Inc.
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Navigating Difference
Community Building, Cultural Competency, and Social Justice
Summary of Concepts and Exercises:
 White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh
 Identity Wheel Exercise: Unearned advantage
 Becoming an Intercultural Ally and a Poverty Coach
Suggested Reading:
Johnson, A.G., 2006. “Privilege, Power, and Difference”. New York: McGraw-Hill
What do recent participants say about the Navigating Difference?
“I loved the training and that you inspired me to continue using my privileges to make a
difference in my community and with my friends.”
Workshop Four
Personal Leadership
Teaching Objectives:
1. Participants will integrate lesson from their study of intercultural communication and
articulate strategies for applying those lessons in their daily lives
2. Participants will practice using Personal Leadership, a flexible and repeatable process for
problem-solving and communication challenges
3. Participants will write a personal/professional vision statement about how they see
themselves at their highest and best when navigating difficult situations
4. Participants will practice the Critical Moment Dialogue, the central tool in the Personal
Leadership toolbox
Summary of Concepts and Exercises:




Leadership from the inside out
Using difference as a creative resource
Crafting a personal vision statement
The Critical Moment Dialogue
Suggested Reading:
Schaetti, B.F., S.J. Ramsey, and G.C. Watanabe, 2008. “Personal Leadership: Making a World
of Difference: A Methodology of Two Principles and Six Practices”
The Navigating Difference Training is presented by Oregon State University Extension in conjunction with and with permission from the Board of
Regents, Washington State University. The Navigating Difference Part One curriculum is adapted from the work of Mary Katherine Deen, Melynda
Huskey, and Louise Parker of WSU Extension, Stella Ting-Toomey of California State University, Fullerton, and Donna Beegle of Communicating Across
Barriers, Inc.
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