Thank you Erin and Nick for the opportunity to talk
about service and diversity.
I am interested in the fact that discussions about
diversity (which IS a huge and complex issue)
seem to take into account important variables such
as race, ethnicity, class, age and sexual preference
(a new one on the scene - thank God it's finally
arrived and is visible). What seems to be missing
in these discussions is the factor of TIME.
Here's what I mean.
As continuously evolving human beings, we grow
and change over time. Our experience of
ourselves (and our own "differentness") and others
(and our perceptions of their "differentness")
changes. People can evolve from wanting (and,
yes, NEEDING, developmentally) to be with only
those like them. I believes this happens when the
very nature of their being has been denied,
repressed, rendered invisible by the culture.
Having had that experience of being fully who you
are, not having to fight for your very existence, you
are then more able emotionally, cognitively,
behaviorally and, yes, spiritually, to be with others.
AND, you might choose to never move from that
point of being with those who are like you. We
need to think "both and" here.
Look at the players in "service." (This will be
extremely simplistic) The provider of the service,
the recpient of the service - they both can be,
developmentally, at very different places. We need
to respect and honor where they are. We also
need to challenge where they are. This is the crux
of the helping relationship.
Let me make an assumption. I believe that many of
us on this listserve have ideas about the WHERE
we want society to be - the endpoint - the goal. I
believe that those ideas probably include a life for
ALL participants of equality of opportunity, social
justice, the opportunity to have basic human needs
met and the privilege to be a part of others'
journeys as they go about meeting their needs.
Let us not forget that our collective journey towards
this end can allow for everyone to proceed in their
own way and at their own pace. This is the point of
"When in Rome" "to everything there is a season"
"timing and delivery" etc. And let us not forget the
paradox of relationship, that by creating an
environment in which people can be fully who they
are, they can then move towards who they are
destined to be.
Nan Ottenirtter
American Association of Community Colleges
202-728-0200
nottenritter@aacc.nche.edu