Facilitating Dialogue in Culturally Diverse Groups

About this event

Dr. Janet Bennett
Executive Director
Intercultural Communication Institute

Continental Breakfast & Networking at 8:00
Presentation at 8:30

Cultural differences among participants in meetings, focus groups, training sessions, and classrooms create special challenges for facilitators. The approach that encourages dialogue among some participants may be exactly the one that discourages participation from others. Just when we assume that everything is working out, something may go mysteriously wrong. This workshop will explore the possibility that “something cultural is going on!”

This course is designed for anyone who tries to facilitate interaction in educational or organizational settings, where participants do not share the same cultural styles. The course will:

• Explore the complicated patterns of interaction that occur in culturally mixed groups
• Examine the impact of thinking and speaking styles on classroom facilitation
• Apply intercultural principles to facilitating reluctant or challenging participants
• Review strategies for addressing culture in groups

About the Presenter

Janet Bennett, PhD, is Executive Director of the Intercultural Communication Institute, sponsor of the Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication and director of the Master of Arts Degree in Intercultural Relations jointly sponsored by ICI and the University of the Pacific. She specializes in developing theory and intercultural competence programs both domestically and internationally for individuals who teach, train, or work across cultures. Most recently, she has been working with universities, corporations, government agencies, and international humanitarian aid professionals. She publishes in the area of intercultural training design and adjustment, and teaches in the training and development program at Portland State University.

About the Network

Diversity Leaders Network is a proactive, comprehensive approach to institutionalizing cultural competence at your organization. This Network is designed to help leaders better understand the cause and effect of varying viewpoints and to inspire open-mindedness and a willingness to learn from those with diverse backgrounds.