So, as I have been working with the new Creative Momentum website, I have been trying to answer the question "What is Creative Diversity?" The concept is the heart and soul of Creative Momentum, Diversityworks Trust's newest project. In a google search of "Creative Diversity," Philip and his projects took up nearly all of the results. Thus, I imagine he has pretty much coined the term.
I take creative diversity and creative momentum to be a virtual community of different populations of race, sexuality, and ability, which come together to celebrate creativity and the arts. Philip says "Creative Momentum is a dedicated virtual space for discussion and debate range of issues and topics, relating to disability, sexual and gender diversity, cultural diversity, mental health and cultural Deafness." So then, it is more than just a focus on creativity, "diversity" is just as important. But, what exactly does "diversity" mean? And in reflection, has my definition of it changed since I have been working at Diversityworks?
At a meeting I had this afternoon, Philip talked about the way the general public views, and fears, people with disability. He gave an example where he said "Imagine you wake up one day to find you are Maori, or you wake up gay, how would you feel? what about if you woke up disabled?" He explained that those who said they would be afraid for either of the first two could be called racist, or homophobic, but that it would be accepted for non disabled people to be scared of a disability. To Philip, it is fact that people would adjust to a disability, and that the fear people feel is unfounded. He says that it is the mindset of those who are not disabled, rather than those who are that must change. People must see the world as if they could one day be disabled, the same as if he/she was to take on the view of another ethnicity or sexual orientation.
From my own experience being behind the chair with Philip, I can see what he means. It is one thing to go through your day not even taking notice as to whether the world is made for people with differing abilities, another if you stop and notice when areas may be well or badly designed for those with disabilities. It is yet another level to actually go through all the steps with someone who is in a wheelchair or has mobility limitations. The time, consideration, and planning that goes into simply getting around your daily routine is exhausting for anyone. A lot has to be done simply to prepare for Philip's comedy show in May. As he said, it is frustrating to have to figure out how he is going to get on stage before he even thinks about planning his routine.
When I think about diversity, my mind immediately jumps to programs or businesses who are trying to make a better image for themselves, or who are promoting an immense and daunting cause. Maybe The fact that I am an upper-middle class female from the suburbs of Charlotte certainly seperates me from the image of "diversity," especially at Carolina. But does that really mean I am the same as every person who fits that same description? Isn't "diversity" supposed to be color blind in the sense that the diversity comes from the person, not the color of his/her skin or the way he/she looks and acts? Or am I wrong? Perhaps I am being too critical.
Honestly, I think "diversity" comes back to what I have been talking about since I started working with Diversityworks: it all comes back to building relationships. Knowing people who are different from you makes you aware of the bigger picture and builds your commitment to developing and supporting your community. For example, my relationship with Philip. It is about embracing commonalities and celebrating differences.
The arguments, theories, and discussions span wayy out from here. Affirmative action, equal opportunity, "diversity," they all have the same goals, but sometimes I feel like we can get lost in the language so much that the people we talk about become labled as races and categories rather than unique individuals...which is the whole point of "diversity." Am I right?
Pasted from <http://kinetickiwi.blogspot.com/>
Hours:
Week | Dates | Goal | Hours | Net | Total |
2 | 16/3-22/3 | 29 | 26 | -4.5 | 73 |
Date | Hours | Description |
16/3/2009 | 2 | emails, reading |
17/3/2009 | 2 | show, reading |
18/3/2009 | 7 | meetings (website), research, powerpoint |
19/3/2009 | 8 | meetings (DW team meeting, CM content, Dr Peter Gibilisco), blog, google research |
20/3/2009 | 7 | meeting (ADL leadership), discussions, research |
Pasted from <file:///D:\My%20Documents\DiversityWorks\hours.xlsx>
Pasted from <file:///D:\My%20Documents\Internship%20Hours.xlsx>
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