Diversity: Learning to broaden my scope of practice.

Diversity is the way a picture looks when it is finished. The tools to get that picture beautiful is what makes the final piece a masterpiece. I look at arriving at diversity when I embrace, drop hidden bias, use organic filters and look heart to heart. When you have a diverse culture of people to keep that masterpiece beautiful you continue to embrace, learn and accept. In doing those things you continue to hone in on the details of your picture. I have learned that my job is to empower my teachers. I have to train them to work heart to heart with no barriers. I have to instill in them the dignity of the human person without judgement, by birthright.
One goal I have is to teach trauma informed practice to my teachers. I see troubled children come in to my program each year. They are labeled. They are the ones the teachers dread to see walk through that gate. Just by their background they are at a disadvantage. I want to turn the lens just a little to allow them to see that dignity and it is in their changing perspective that the child will change. They have to employ more strategies such as empathy and safe zones. Every child deserves love.
Thank you to each and everyone of you for sharing very personal stories of pain and trauma. These are hard to share with friends and we all shared with each other. In sharing, we are able to learn. Thank you for that vulnerability. It has been a blessing to be able to get to know all of you.