ASSIGNMENT
In an effort to gain awareness and appreciation of experience of minority status, this assignment is designed to increase your knowledge of the experiences of others by stepping outside of your typical experience. Students will complete a 2-hour field experience that is culture-specific to explore a culture different from your own. This might include attending a service at a church that primarily serves members of a particular ethnic group, a gay pride festival, a cultural festival, a trip to a cultural center, visit to a reservation, shop at a grocery store or bakery, attend an art exhibit etc. The event must be something where you can participate and interact with others that occurs during the weeks of this course. The possibilities are truly endless, bounded only by your interests and curiosity.
After attending the event, write up a 4-6 page (NOT including cover page or reference page) APA formatted reflection paper that covers the following topics: (please make sure to include these as section dividers/headers in your paper)..
(a) Summary of Event
In your own words describe this event and your interaction with people attended this event. (Less than one page)
(b) Awareness of Own Cultural Values and Biases
What prior knowledge and or preconceived/expectations ideas did you have before
participating in this activity? What did you find compelling about this experience? What changed in your thinking based on this experience? Are there now any changes that you can anticipate for yourself?
(c) Awareness of Client’s Worldview
Describe how this event might be different from a similar event within your own culture. If you were seeing a client from this culture, what might your experience tell you about her or his worldview? How might intersections of identity impact their worldview?
(d) Culturally Appropriate Intervention Strategies
Based on what you learned during this experience and from your readings and experiences in class, what are some themes that you might want to explore when working with clients from this culture? Make a list of community resources available to the cultural group (e.g., associations, counseling services, foundations, community clinics, community outreach groups).
