Building Cultural Competence

According to a survey of volunteer coordinators throughout Minnesota, the Volunteer Issues Committee of Literacy Minnesota identified the topic of building cultural competence as a priority for 2005-2006. The areas of priority are addressed and explored in Literacy Minnesota’s Building Cultural Competence Project.  A set of tools has been compiled to provide as a resource to volunteer coordinators (and others) in the field of adult literacy.

The components of the project include the following (all are PDFs):

• Developing a Culturally Sensitive Learning Environment Assessment - This assessment helps programs to assess their learning environment, looking at factors that make their environment either welcoming or inhibiting and acts as a checklist to assist in enhancing the learning environment.
• Cultural Competence Self-Assessments - These tools help individuals to explore their own cultural influences and assess themselves in the area of cultural competence. Includes:
  • You As a Culturally Diverse Person
  • Values Clarification
• Cultural Dimensions in the Learning Environment - This tool looks at how culture affects the teaching and learning process.
• E-Mail Curriculum Tutor Tips - Monthly curriculum-related tutoring tips that related to cultural competence will be sent out to coordinators who are on the Minnesota Literacy Council’s tutoring tips e-mail list.
• E-Mail Coordinator Tips - Monthly coordinator-related tips that are related to cultural competence will be sent out to coordinators who are on the Minnesota Literacy Council’s coordinator e-mail list.  Tips will provide ideas to make programs inclusive of people from different backgrounds.
• Educational Heritages Guides/Website - Educational heritages guides will be available for different countries that adult English language learners come from.  These guides include:
  • Country Reports with research-based information about the educational system of each country.;
  • Oral History Project with learner stories and personal interviews of Minnesota learners, focusing on their experiences with education before coming to Minnesota.
  • A list of cultural resources (includes websites and organizations)
  • Cultural Competency: Educational Heritages Research Project

For more information or to contribute to the project, go to http://educationalheritageproject.pbwiki.com