What is the network development project?
Why it is important to build a network to help you creatively work on cultural competency? Cultural competency is not an end-point, rather it is a continuum of knowledge, skill-building, and self-reflection. Cultural competency is cultivated when we have safe places to learn, ask difficult questions, share about complex situations, and problem solve together.
This project will bring together nurses and other healthcare providers who, over the next year, will create a virtual community where individuals can learn, share, and support one another in topics related to cultural competency, diversity, inclusion, social justice, and health equity. This network development project will begin October 2017 and end October 2018.
We plan to have a series of virtual sessions where you will have a chance to learn more about cultural competency while you build relationships with others interested in the same thing around the state. The sessions will enable you to strengthen your network building skills so that you can create networks in your region to address cultural competency and related issues. In your networks you can take action on challenges and issues of significance within your communities.
What is network leadership?
Network leadership is leadership that focuses on identifying networks around you and connecting people so that those networks are more inclusive and effective. For example, when you are serving someone from a non-traditional culture, you need a network of others to help you connect to resources.
- are good listeners
- identify people’s skills, strengths, interests and challenges
- enjoy connecting people to others who share their interests
- interact with others as peers
- reach out to be more inclusive and cross cultural and racial divides
- help others become network leaders
- convene people to work on common issues
- help people listen to and support each other
- encourage groups and organizations to reflect on and learn from their experience
Why you might be interested in joining this project?
If you are interested
- In expanding your leadership skills through learning or strengthening the skills listed above.
- In working with others in understanding the ways cultural competency can improve health outcomes in the state
- In building an intentional network of resources and people who want to promote culturally competent health care in your region.
What you will learn?
You will learn simple activities that you can do in your organization and community to build effective networks. Examples include
- Simple network mapping to identify people who are interested in cultural competency and inclusion
- Strategies to effectively connect people who don’t currently know each other
- Surveys to help people identify to what degree they or their organization are practicing network values such as inclusion and innovation
- Ways to convene people with similar interests to work on small collaborative projects
What will be expected of you?
Everyone will be expected to attend 5 interactive virtual sessions using simple videoconferencing and to try out some of the activities in their organizations and communities.
If you volunteer to be a regional network convener, you will also bring together people in your region who are interested in cultural competency and inclusion. You will learn how to
use simple videoconferencing to hold virtual gatherings that are fun and effective and how to an intentional support infrastructure to support communication and action over time.
To learn more about this project, attend our informative 1 hour webinar on September 25, 2017 at 10am. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/4565669821 You can also contact Jill Peltzer at email@example.com.
Future webinars are planned for the following Tuesdays from 11:30 – 1:30pm