Culturally Competent Engagement

A Mindful Approach

By:
Edward J. Brantmeier, James Madison University
Noorie K. Brantmeier, James Madison University

Published 2020

This book encourages mindfulness as a tool for personal growth and for intentional action for the purpose of social change. Learning exercises focus on: examining privilege, oppression, and difference; intersectional identity mapping; historical racism against marginalized groups; social dominance theory; sociological mindfulness; cultural humility; appreciative inquiry; and more. Culturally Competent Engagement: A Mindful Approach embraces a fresh approach to cultivating self, other, and systems awareness for a linguistically rich and culturally diverse world. The confluence of people and cultures requires habits of mind, dispositions, skills, and values that promote diversity affirmation while simultaneously honoring one’s own cultural integrity and limitations. The benefits of being culturally competent are numerous and include healthy, holistic relationships and connection with people across differences. This book provides conceptual context for tried and true learning exercises that promote deeper self-understanding, ways to connect with people who are culturally different, and an understanding of the systems (socio-cultural, economic, political, and environmental) that circumscribe our lives.

Written for organizational leaders, university instructors, students, and practitioners, this book includes typical approaches to enhancing culturally competent engagement, yet has several special features that differentiate it from approaches in other books and articles on the topic. Typical approaches to developing cultural competence focus on acquisition of communicative skills, behaviors, and dispositions needed to effectively navigate cross-cultural relationships and function effectively in multicultural environments. We include and build on these approaches by adding a layer of critical and complex systems understanding as a necessary foundation for effective cross-cultural engagement. The Self-Other-Systems approach challenges readers via concrete learning exercises that nudge one along the life-long path of culturally competent engagement. Perhaps the most unique feature of this book is the explicit and implicit mindful approach. A total of eleven learning exercises are offered, foregrounded by theory and completed with reflection questions or activities. All learning exercises encourage mindfulness, or awareness of oneself in the present moment, awareness of others, and awareness of broader contexts and forces at work in multicultural contexts. In specific, three learning exercises are meditations that can be read or listened to via free download from the book’s website.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements. Dedication. Preface. CHAPTER 1: Introduction to the Self, Other, Systems Approach. CHAPTER 2: Self-Understanding. CHAPTER 3: Other Understanding: Appreciating and Learning About Cultural Differences. CHAPTER 4: Systems Understanding: Examining Societal Structures. CHAPTER 5: S.O.S.: Life-long Path of Culturally Competent Engagement. About the Authors.

REVIEWS
"In their daily work, the authors teach and help transform groups toward healthy cultural engagement in and out of their classrooms at James Madison University and Seven Sisters Community Development Group, LLC. Ed and Noorie both have extensive lived experience in diverse cultures that supports their academic research and the writing of this book. Although geared for instructors, practitioners, and other leaders, one can join this as a self-guided tour with any level of willingness and openness to personal growth and integration.

I recommend not only reading this book, but fully participating in the work wherever you are on the journey of cultural competence. A quote used several times intentionally throughout the book is from Lilla Watson, an Australian Aboriginal educator and activist, “If you have come to help, you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound in mine, then let us walk together.”" Jessica Del Pozo, Ph.D. Lemke Health Partners in Psychology Today (Read full review)

MORE INFORMATION

AUDIO DOWNLOADS
> Learning Exercise Self Understanding via Quiet Centering final. Edward J. Brantmeier .mp4 (324MB )
> Learning Exercise- Self-Other-Systems Integration final Edward J. Brantmeier.mp4 ( 609MB )
> Learning Exercise- Other Understanding via Metta (Loving Kindness) Meditation for Cross-Cultural Encounters Final Edward Brantmeier ( 719MB )