Addendum
Tools that can be used to increase our cultural competency based on Pedersen’s (1994) model
which focuses on the domains of awareness, knowledge and skills.
Awareness Domain activities
Activity 1: Understanding diversity
The diversity wheel illustrates the complexity of diversity. Each level of the wheel represent
dimensions of our identity. The internal dimension are those characteristics that are permanent
and most visible. The external dimensions are those that are acquired and change throughout our
lives. The organizational dimension are characteristics that situate people within their social,
cultural and political context.
John Hopkins University (n.d.) The
Diversity Wheel. Retrieved from:
http://web.jhu.edu/dlc/resources/diversity_
wheel/
Exercise:
1. Take a moment to complete the diversity wheel with information about yourself.
2. Take a moment to think about how your identity has shaped your values, beliefs, behaviours,
experiences and expectations? How does your identity make you unique?
3. Share your diversity wheel with the group and your thoughts on how your identify impacts
you (depending on your comfort level).
4. Recognize and discuss with the group the similarities and differences between people’s world
views. How do these similarities and difference impact our ability to work together? How
does it impact our ability to work with clients?
Activity 2: Understanding power and privilege
Exercise:
1. Read the following article individually and check off the ones that you believe describe your
position
McIntosh, P. (1989, July/August). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack.
Peace and Freedom,10-12.
2. In small groups discuss your thoughts on this article. What feelings does it bring up?
3. How does privilege impact your relationships with clients?
Knowledge domain activities
Activity 1: Expanding knowledge of cultural groups
Exercise:
1. Identify marginalized groups that are represented within the staff and clients of the
organization
2. Divide into groups and answer the following questions about one marginalized group using
the resources provided
a. Describe their cultural history.
b. What are their unique cultural values and beliefs?
c. What are their unique cultural behaviours?
d. What is unique to their communication style?
e. How would these characteristics impact the way in which you work with this cultural
group?
Activity 2: Understanding the complexity of oppression
Oppression occurs when an individual’s access to services, benefits, privileges and society is
influences by their membership in a particular group (Adams, et al, 2013). All forms of
oppression are interconnected and therefore cannot be fully understood in isolation (Adams et al,
2013).
Exercise:
1. Divide into groups and discuss a story that demonstrates the complexity of oppression
Examples of stories: Neysmith, S., (2005). Policing motherhood: The gender and racial
effects of poverty. In K. Bezanson ,S. Neysmith, & A. O’Connell (Eds.). Telling tales –
Living the effects of public policy. (pp. 74-95). Fernwood Publishing Company: Halifax
2. Answer the following discussion questions
a. What type of oppression is the individual experiencing?
b. How are their experiences of oppression connected?
c. How has oppression affected their access to services or resources?
Skills domain Activities
Exercise: Put the group into partners and have then sit back to back. Give one partner a simple
drawing the other partner a blank piece of paper and pencil. The partner with the drawing must
get their partner to copy their drawing without telling the partner what the drawing is and without
showing the drawing to their partner.
Questions:
1. What worked and did not work in communicating with your partner?
2. How does this exercise relate to cross cultural communication?
3. What lessons did you learn that you can utilize in cross cultural communication?