Cultural Fluency: Education

© 2003 California Newsreel. www.newsreel.org
From the documentary RACE – The Power of an Illusion – www.pbs.org/race

"The African-American Cultural Center at the Eastview Campus strives to increase understanding in the ACC and Central Texas communities of the culture, history and contributions of African-Americans."

"Purpose: To develop a multifaceted approach of initiatives that assists the College in improving the recruitment, retention, graduation, transfer and continuing education of Black students at ACC."

"The Latino/Latin American Studies Center, also known as El Centro, is an inter-discplinary, college-wide Center supporting Latino and Mexican American studies."

"Members of our organization provide opportunities for professional development that enrich higher education personnel and improve the quality of our career growth."

An organization of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board aimed at Closing the Gaps by increasing college enrollment and completion by the current generation of Texans who may not have had college plans. There are personal stories, contests, college visiting days, financial aid information, and more aimed at middle and high school students and adult degree seekers.

"The idea of establishing a statewide organization of Chicanos in higher education originated in September 1974, with the Chicano Faculty Association of the University of Texas at Austin. Professors Teresa H. Escobedo, Efraim Armendariz, and Leonard A. Valverde wrote a proposal that was funded by the National Education Task Force de La Raza, Southwest Regional Office, then directed by José Cárdenas. At a February 1975 Education of Mexican Americans conference held in Austin and sponsored by the Chicano Faculty Association, the Mexican American School Board Members Association, the Texas Association of Mexican American Educators, and the Texas Association for Bilingual Education, a steering committee was selected to plan and implement the association."

"Since 1973, the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education has been a dynamic organization which provides a statewide vehicle for a diverse, multicultural workforce to learn, share, direct, lead and influence our educational system."

"On June 1st, 2013 (the University of Texas Austin] ... officially launched the Consortium, funded by two new grant awards from the Greater Texas Foundation (GTF) and TG as well as continuation funding from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This new state-wide collaboration focuses on improving Hispanic and African American male student success across the state of Texas."

The mission of the Coordinating Board is to serve as a resource, partner, and advocate for Texas higher education, resulting in a globally competitive workforce that positions Texas as an international leader.

Under "Higher Education Topics" see "Racial/Ethnic Minority Students"
ACE... "maintains an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of equal access to a quality education for all members of society.... that requires a deliberate focus when addressing the needs of racial and ethnic minorities. ACE is committed to driving research and illuminating innovative programs focused on cultivating a talented pool of underrepresented minorities..."

"The Initiative works to improve the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the nation through increased access to and participation in federal programs."

"Since 1971 AAC&U has developed initiatives that bring together faculty and institutions of higher learning to provide national leadership that advances diversity and equity in higher education, and the best educational practices for an increasingly diverse population."

Find and share resources and explore strategies to engage students by connecting to and honoring their cultures, experiences, and backgrounds.

"Mission Statement

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the 'law firm of the Latino community', MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access."

"Minority Serving Institutions are institutions of higher education that serve minority populations. They are unique both in their missions and in their day-to-day operations. Some of these colleges and universities are located in remote regions of the country, whereas others serve urban neighborhoods. Some minority-serving institutions are only a few decades old, whereas others, particularly the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, have been striving for more than a century to give their constituents the social and educational skills needed to overcome racial discrimination and limited economic opportunities."

"Provides national leadership and contributes to the body of knowledge on cultural and linguistic competency within systems and organizations. Major emphasis is placed on translating evidence into policy and practice for programs and personnel concerned with health and mental health care delivery, administration, education and advocacy."

"In 1988, The Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies launched the first Annual National Conference for Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE®) to address the resurgence of racist incidents in higher education. Since its inception, the conference has evolved into a vital national resource for higher education institutions, providing an annual multicultural forum that attracts Black/African Americans, American Indians, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Latino/as, and European Americans representing campuses across the United States."

"The College and University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA) is an online resource and learning community focused on alleviating hunger among college students."

Multicultural education involves more than reading a book about a historical character of color or celebrating a holiday surrounding a diverse hero. It includes policies, practices, and pedagogical approaches that affirm students’ differences and intersectionality.

"Diversity is what we support...inclusion is what we do." The City of Austin's first Diversity Symposium was held on Jan. 30, 2013. The 2.5 hour event can be watched on video on the website.

Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"This report describes the labor force characteristics and earnings patterns among the largest race and ethnicity groups living in the United States—Whites, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics—and provides detailed data through a set of supporting tables.

University of Chicago. The organizations below are dedicated to the development of minorities and women in specific professions. Last updated on 9/26/14.

The Atlantic.
"Whites account for about 81 percent of the workforce. But there are 33 occupations counted by the BLS (particularly those on farms, around heavy machines, in doctor's offices, and in C-suites) where whites officially account for nine in ten of all workers, or more."

An updated Look at Private Sector Employment for Women, African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and American Indian/Alaskan Natives in Celebration of EEOC's 50th Anniversary.