CEDO's Center for Community & Neighborhoods
We All Belong AmeriCorps*State Program
2010-2011

We All Belong Initiative Burlington’s Center for Community and Neighborhoods (CCAN) is poised with several community partners to launch an initiative to create a more welcoming community embracing our diversity and global connection. The We All Belong Initiative is designed to enable us to tear down the systems that perpetuate poverty, racism and social inequity.

Mission

The mission is to provide the tools and resources for organizations to primarily build their cultural and linguistic competence so that they can provide more culturally relevant services, and then truly be more inclusive and welcoming.

Goal

The goal of the initiative in 2010-2011 is to increase the cultural competency of schools and organizations to serve low-income and racially/ethnically diverse groups.

Briefly, cultural competence is a developmental process, not a final result that evolves over an extended period. Both individuals and organizations are at various levels of awareness, knowledge and skills along the cultural competence continuum. (adapted from Cross et al., 1989). The Center for Cultural Competence, at Georgetown University states the following:

Cultural competence requires that organizations:

1. have a defined set of values and principles, and demonstrate behaviors, attitudes, policies and structures that enable them to work effectively cross-culturally.
2. have the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge and (5) adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of the communities they serve.
3. incorporate the above in all aspects of policy making, administration, practice, service delivery and involve systematically consumers, key stakeholders and communities.

Resource: National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University: http://www11.georgetown.edu/research/gucchd/nccc/.

2010-2011 AmeriCorps*State Member Activities May Include:

• help research and coordinate trainings and workshops on cultural competency for staff and board members
• coordinate advisory groups that represent the diversity of beneficiaries to provide input on programs, inclusion, and how best to disseminate information
• meet with different ethnic and cultural leaders to learn about most pressing needs and barriers to increased civic engagement participation
• present information about parents' rights in schools and the significance of family engagement at different cultural associations and groups
• coordinate translation of materials
• help create new programs based on feedback from beneficiaries
• research and help create new out-of-school programs that help increase student achievement
• help school district incorporate global & culturally competent curriculum
• help schools and organizations disseminate information in a linguistically competent manner

For more information on how to host an AmeriCorps*State member, please refer to the Host Organizations page.

AmeriCorps*State members can do direct service to strengthen an organization’s programs and its ability to serve particular populations. Like A*VISTA, organizations still need a sustainability plan so they can continue to serve the needs of the community once AmeriCorps support has ended.

For more information on AmeriCorps*State, please refer to the Prospective Members page. Or, learn more about CEDO's AmeriCorps*VISTA program, another local AmeriCorps program.

Page last updated December 29, 2009