Perspectives on Diversity and Equity

In my new course in diversity and equity, we are exploring the ideas surrounding the cultures and backgrounds of children and families, how families are defined, and how professionals can partner with families to provide the most quality experiences for children and families in our programs.

This week, we have been asked to consider the following scenario:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

Blog about all of the following:

A description of the three items you would choose

How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise

I would take a family photo, a family recipe book, and a small key chain with St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers on it that I received from my dad before I traveled to Russia after high school.  The family photo would remind me of the bond we share as a family.  It would allow me to remember times when life was simpler and encourage me to establish that life again once we settled in the new country.  The recipe book would be important for us in that process to establish a sense of normalcy in the new country.  It would also be a tool to share our culture with others that have been displaced.  Food brings people together and sharing traditional foods is a great way to develop relationships with others.  The key chain would be important to me to remind me of my dad and the faith he and my mom raised my sister and I with.  It is a small token that holds very significant meaning.  I carry it in my purse every day!

If I was told that I could only keep one of the items, it would be the key chain.  I could carry it with me and remember my family and my past experiences, as well as feel a sense of security in the presence of a reminder of my faith.  I would feel a sense of loss in leaving the photo and recipe book behind.  When you think that those are the only possessions you have in the world other than the clothes on your back, it is tragic to think that they would be taken from you.  This exercise should be a reminder to us that this happens to people all over the world every day.  We hear in the news about people fleeing their homes because of war, famine, or other catastrophic events.  We must be thankful for what we have and the security we feel.  When we approach families, we need to be mindful of the pasts from which they come.  We often have no clear idea of the traumas they have experienced and the care they will require until we build a strong relationship with them.