Foster a more inclusive and compassionate library environment.
What is a culture of belonging, and how can you help create it at your library?
Over two weeks starting Sept. 17, be guided through sensitivity training to help better equip you to serve your local community with cultural humility and compassion. Come away with tools and resources that will help you understand power dynamics, center people and relationships, and increase participation and belonging for everyone in your library.
Week 1: Understanding your role in creating a culture of belonging
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Session 1 | 1:00-2:00 EST Creating a Culture of Belonging What is a culture of belonging, and how can you help create it at your library? This session will discuss necessary skills for building belonging interpersonally and organizationally. You will also leave with scripts you can use in crucial conversations so that you are prepared to engage with others confidently.
Stephen Jackson, (he, him) Founder, Global CommUnity Associates
Session 2 | 2:15-3:45 EST Sensitivity Training How do your personal values, attitudes, and beliefs influence how you perceive and treat others? What are some practical ways you can better understand people and cultivate more empathy and self-awareness? This sensitivity training will equip you with the foundational knowledge and skills you need to help create a culture of belonging for patrons and colleagues.
Christina Fuller-Gregory, Assistant Director of Libraries, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville
Workshop Q&A - 3:45-4:00 EST An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.
Week 2: Engaging your community to create a culture of belonging Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Session 1 | 1:00-1:45 EST Data-Driven Practices: A Method for Measuring Cultural Competency How do you know whether your library is making progress on your cultural competency initiatives? How do you measure success? This session will feature Dr. Kiara Butler’s PERM framework – a methodology to measure cultural competency. Leave this session with practical tools to demonstrate progress and growth areas for your library.
Kiara Butler, EdD, Author of Terms & Conditions: The Fine Print to an Anti-Racist Society, Organizational Coach and CEO and Founder of Unscripted Consult
Session 2 | 1:45-2:30 EST Centering Belonging through Community Participatory Design Creating a culture of belonging for the community you serve requires a deep understanding of who your community is and what they need and want. In this session, you’ll learn the foundations of participatory design so that you can ensure you’re inviting your community’s input into the programs and services you design for them. We'll also discuss how to find allies in your community and how to map and build helpful assets for continuing this work.
Session 3 | 2:45-3:45 EST Cultivating Support and Making Change from Where You Are How do you continue making progress in your library if you lack support from your colleagues, community, or state? How can you determine the areas of need for your library that are within your control, and how can you harness the power of your community assets to make meaningful change? This closing session will discuss tangible ways you can create a culture of belonging in your library on an individual level. You will also learn the tools for creating deeper conversations about change that needs to happen in your organization.
Dr. Shindale Seale, (she, her) CEO, SEADE Coaching & Consulting
Workshop Q&A | 3:45-4:00 EST An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.
