Grace Offers Multiculturalism Seminar
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - "Understanding people who see the world differently than you do" is one of the goals of a public seminar on multiculturalism to be given by Grace College in late September.
The seminar is targeted to business people, educators and area residents who are interested in learning more about the growing cultural diversity of Kosciusko County.
Led by Dr. Tom Stallter, chairman of the department of intercultural studies and world mission at Grace, the seminar aims to "bring awareness of the deeper aspects of culture, other than hairdos, skin color or language," Stallter said.
In other words, in an ever-shrinking world, to help people get along.
Whether business people are dealing with colleagues in other countries or teachers in Kosciusko County are finding more and more Spanish-speaking students in their classes, a basic understanding of cultural differences will help everyone, he said.
"I think there are a number of people who want to get up to date on intercultural differences in this community," Stallter said. "You may manage greetings, but you're really not on the same page."
The Internet, which allows immediate communications with almost anyone in the world at any time, also makes the need for understanding cultural diversity more urgent, he said.
The seminar is the first in a series on multiculturalism, Stallter said, and is offered by the Community Education Department at Grace.
"We want the school to become a resource to the community," Stallter said. "We want people in the community to feel unthreatened by what's going on" as the area's population grows more diverse.
Grace added intercultural studies to the curriculum two years ago, Stallter said. "Cultures are integrated systems, so when you tinker with one in one place, it causes ripples elsewhere.
"We need to get to deeper levels of understanding values and beliefs and what's going on behind the scenes," he said.
There is no enrollment limit on the seminar, which will take place Sept. 24 and 25 at Westminster Hall. The schedule is for 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 24, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 25. The pre-registration fee is $15 until Aug. 30 and $25 until Sept. 16. The seminar fee of $169 is due by Sept. 16.
For further information, call 372-5100, ext. 6112. [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - "Understanding people who see the world differently than you do" is one of the goals of a public seminar on multiculturalism to be given by Grace College in late September.
The seminar is targeted to business people, educators and area residents who are interested in learning more about the growing cultural diversity of Kosciusko County.
Led by Dr. Tom Stallter, chairman of the department of intercultural studies and world mission at Grace, the seminar aims to "bring awareness of the deeper aspects of culture, other than hairdos, skin color or language," Stallter said.
In other words, in an ever-shrinking world, to help people get along.
Whether business people are dealing with colleagues in other countries or teachers in Kosciusko County are finding more and more Spanish-speaking students in their classes, a basic understanding of cultural differences will help everyone, he said.
"I think there are a number of people who want to get up to date on intercultural differences in this community," Stallter said. "You may manage greetings, but you're really not on the same page."
The Internet, which allows immediate communications with almost anyone in the world at any time, also makes the need for understanding cultural diversity more urgent, he said.
The seminar is the first in a series on multiculturalism, Stallter said, and is offered by the Community Education Department at Grace.
"We want the school to become a resource to the community," Stallter said. "We want people in the community to feel unthreatened by what's going on" as the area's population grows more diverse.
Grace added intercultural studies to the curriculum two years ago, Stallter said. "Cultures are integrated systems, so when you tinker with one in one place, it causes ripples elsewhere.
"We need to get to deeper levels of understanding values and beliefs and what's going on behind the scenes," he said.
There is no enrollment limit on the seminar, which will take place Sept. 24 and 25 at Westminster Hall. The schedule is for 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 24, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 25. The pre-registration fee is $15 until Aug. 30 and $25 until Sept. 16. The seminar fee of $169 is due by Sept. 16.
For further information, call 372-5100, ext. 6112. [[In-content Ad]]