Cultural competence is defined as “the ability of individuals and systems to respond effectively and respectfully to all people in a manner that recognizes, affirms, values and preserves the dignity of each individual.” And while many may in theory aspire to this, changing national demographics, differences in communication styles and expression of values, as influenced…
DetailsYou know what they say about assumptions, and it’s not good. But we do it all the time, unconsciously. Every time you look at someone, read a news article, see an image on television…it’s perfectly natural that every experience that we’ve had prior will inform how we interpret that moment before us. The problem is…
DetailsAfter years of study and really important work in intercultural communication, I’ve been asked to contribute in an extremely significant way to the grand opening for I Grow Chicago’s Peace House*, a really important organization doing great work in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. What am I doing? Strategy? No, even bigger. Event planning? No. Getting the…
DetailsAssuming my dentist won’t read this and put two and two together that I stole the science magazine from the waiting room this morning, I read a fascinating article* this morning about why we believe what we believe—“from the trivial and easily verified-I believe it will rain today—to profound leaps of faith—I believe in God.”…
DetailsThis Cascade ad, with father and son spraying non-stick spray all over the dishes to avoid having to clean crusty dried food seems like a tired stereotype. “Doofus” dad has apparently no common sense or parenting or household chore know-how, and mom just rolls her eyes and saves the day with the solution. Double stereotype in…
DetailsMy dad and I have both been reading The Grandest Love: Inspiring the Grandparent-Grandchild Connection at the same time. For full-disclosure, author Jerry Witkovsky is my client, so it’s logical I would read it, and it’s a great give for your parents (Oh…is that Mother’s Day coming around the corner?), but what I didn’t…
DetailsMy husband can drive from Chicago to St. Louis in four hours. For my son and me, it’s a three day trip, via Rock City and Fairyland Caverns in Georgia, or perhaps down the “crookedest street in the world” in Burlington, IA. For some, it’s 100% about the destination or end product. For others, it’s…
DetailsI happened to read John McWhorter’s article from Time Magazine (November online, December in print) just yesterday. He’s married to our cousin, so my mom likes to clip articles she sees by him. It’s sort of the adult equivalent of putting your child’s artwork on the refrigerator because you’re so proud. But in this case, it…
DetailsMy son and I were driving through downtown Park Ridge, past the familiar marquis of the Pickwick Theatre, when he said “What the heck!…That’s new.” “English Only Please” was written at the very top. “Is that a new policy?” he pondered? “It’s probably a foreign film,” I said confidently, which a brief Internet search upon…
DetailsIt’s official. My 13 year old son is a better cook than me. And, it’s not just him who says so. An objective panel in a blind taste test (aka guests over for dinner on Saturday who didn’t know who made which pasta dish) ate all of the pepper pasta dish he made, with barely…
Details
