Part 1: Cultural Navigator

Focus: Self Identity & Reflection

Foundational to cultural intelligence. You have awareness and understanding of your own race, culture and intersecting identities, and understand how these identities influences and impacts the way you see, interpret and interact with the world.

Cultural Identity: Focus Self

Core Concept: This is fundamentally about self-awareness. Before you can understand others, you must first understand yourself.

Key Elements: Self-awareness: Recognizing your own racial, cultural, and intersecting identities.

Influence on Perception: Understanding how your identities shape the lens through which you see and engage with the world.

Implication: By grasping the foundation of your own cultural identity, you set the stage for building genuine relationships with those of different backgrounds. It’s the primary step toward cultural intelligence.

Indicators of Development - Assessing Your Developmental Progress

Increased groundedness in self
Increased authenticity in interpersonal interactions
Have a stronger sense of internal reference
Awareness of what you don’t know
Understanding of how culture plays a role in how you see yourself and how you interact with others
Recognized how the dimensions of diversity shape your sense of self

Development Pathway

Click Here to View and Embark on the Cultural Navigator Pathway

Level 2: Cultural Advocate

Focus: Relationships & Inclusion

You extend your understanding of self to the larger racial and cultural society in which you reside. Your knowledge and worldview has expanded to include varied racial- ethnic cultures and groups, and you hold a positive attitude about groups and cultures that are different from your own.

Cultural Cultural Advocate

Core Concept: With a strong foundation of self-awareness, this stage is about expanding that understanding to comprehend other cultures.

Key Elements:

Expanded Worldview: Growing your knowledge to include an appreciation for diverse racial and ethnic groups.
Positive Attitudes: Holding an optimistic and open view about cultures distinct from your own.

Implication: Cultural Humility doesn't just mean you 'know' about other cultures; it means you can relate to, empathize with, and form positive relationships with individuals from those cultures

Indicators of Development

Openness and developing of asset-based mental models supporting understanding of a wide diversity of cultures and perspectives
Actively support culturally competent and responsive policies, practices, and procedures in professional practice
Challenge hierarchical systems of cultural and/or racial oppression when it happens
Desire to learn new knowledge and skills to combat racism in all forms and willingness to put theory into praxis/practice

Development Pathway

Click Here to View and Embark on the Cultural Advocate Development Pathway

Level 3: Cultural Champion

Focus: Leadership & Innovation

You have the ability to thrive in racially and culturally diverse settings. You have agility and fluidity in your responsiveness to interactions and diverse situations you have not been explicitly prepared for or have had experience with.

You are able to interpret gestures and behaviors that are different from your own and you are able to see and situate yourself in both local and global contexts.

Cultural Champion

Core Concept: This is about adaptability. With the knowledge and understanding of your own and other cultures, you can effectively navigate diverse settings.
Key Elements:
- Adaptive Behavior: Ability to interact effectively in unfamiliar cultural contexts.
- Interpretative Skills: Deciphering gestures and behaviors that might be foreign to your own understanding.
- Global and Local Context: Recognizing the broader global implications while also being attuned to localized nuances.

Implication: Being culturally intelligent goes beyond just knowing or being aware. It's about being able to function and thrive amidst cultural diversity, even in unanticipated scenarios.

Indicators of Development

Seeking Diverse Perspectives
Advocacy for Anti- Racist Policies and Resource Distribution
Active Engagement with Anti- Racist Advocacy
Peer Education of White Supremacy and Anti- BIPOC behaviors and beliefs

Development Pathway

Click Here to View and Embark on the Cultural Champion Pathway

Page updated

Report abuse