Presented by Freddie ZeiglerPresented by Freddie Zeigler

NWS WFO New OrleansNWS WFO New Orleans

Baton Rouge, LABaton Rouge, LA

April 14, 2010April 14, 2010

What is Multicultural?The term multiculturalism generally refers to

a theory of racial, cultural, and ethnic diversity that applies to the demographic make-up of a specific place.

Differences in race, ethnicity, language, nationality, religion, etc. among various groups within a community. A community is said to be culturally diverse if its residents include members of different groups.

What is RACE?Race and ethnicity are constantly evolving

concepts, deceptively easy to measure, yet slippery to pinpoint as definitive individual characteristics.

A current dictionary definition of race is “a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same common stock, or a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics.”

The Human Family Tree retraces the deepest branches of the human race to reveal that Homo Sapiens (that’s us!) are all 99.9% genetically identical. National Geographic 2009

What is RACE?The 1850 Census enumerators used a form that assumed a

default race of white, with a checkmark indicating nonwhites as black or mulatto, with additional indications for free or slave.

Native Americans were added as a category in 1860.Note: Historian William Katz has documented that one

third of the Indian nation was black.Since 1960, individuals have been able to specify their own race

and ethnicity.By 2000, the Census enumerated 126 racial and ethnic

categories.Measuring Race and Ethnicity: Why and How?Margaret A. Winker, MD JAMA. 2004;292:1612-1614.

Multiracial respondents were 6.1 million in 2006, or 2.0% of the population. By 2020, minorities will make up 40% of the population.

Diversity – Ethnic GroupsWe the Americans: We the Americans:

Estimates Census 2009 – around 307 million

An increase of about 26 million from 2000…up 9.3%

In 2000, the median age was 36.6.

By 2008, the median age was 38.1.

Significant increases occurred in population age groups above 80…50% increase above 100.

Estimated Census 2008 –

White 247 million – 80%

Hispanics 46 million – 15%

Blacks 37 million – 12%

Asian 13 million – 4%

Multiracial 5 million – 2%

Diversity – Ethnic GroupsWe the Americans:

LouisianaEstimates Census 2009 –

around 4.4 million A decrease around

90 thousand

Estimated Census 2008 –

Whites 2.8 million – 65%

Hispanics 148 thousand –

3%

Blacks 1.4 million – 32%

Asians 76 thousand – 2%

Multiracial 46 thousand -

1%

Why Embrace Diversity?NOAA Business Plan for

DiversityWorkplace 2020 and

Megatrends 2000

New Customer BasesNew Workforce MakeupGlobal MarketplaceEmerging TechnologiesVision of Inclusive CultureMove Toward Managing

Diversity to Encourage All Employees to Reach Their Full Potential and to Retain Talent Pool

Mission Attainment

Older EmployeesIncreasingly FemaleNon-White Foreign-bornDisabled and ChallengedGays, Lesbians, Bi-

SexualsTransgendersMore Religion - More

Diversity

Interactions that Influence Vulnerability

to Weather Hazards and DisastersCulture X AgeCulture X GenderCulture X DisabilityLanguage X AgeLanguage X GenderLanguage X Disability

Are there other important variables? Where does income fit in?

Vulnerability implies power and resources or the absence thereof.

How we prepare and warn people influences who and what we save.

How can a population’s behavioral values, norms, beliefs, and practices be leveraged to maximize protection?

NWS Message Dissemination - Warnings

Elderly are particularly vulnerable to linguistic isolation.Access to Warnings

Affected by economic differences, cultural practices, historical experiences.

CredibilityEthnic minorities often find white authorities less credible

information sources (research begins in 1970s, continues to present).

“The history of discrimination against minority groups in the U.S. is reflected in the distrust such groups tend to place in the majority social system.” Lindell & Perry 1992

Unequal warning receptionLanguage barriers to

warning receptionUnequal weather

preparedness Loss of livesSome underserved Lack of preparedness

efforts to accommodate disabilities, i.e., deaf and hard of hearing

Consequences of Ignoring Diversity

EmbraceBenefitsAcceptance of differences in

people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, and spiritual practice

Search for similarities in folkRight- versus left-brainersExpand markets and partners to

diverse groupsRecruit in non-traditional places,

schools, churches, etc.Minimize cultural biases in

outreach and marketingMinimize class differences

Aids in preventing “isms” based on differences

Builds teamwork/coalitions

Increases productivity and creativity

Reach non-traditional customers with products

All talents are utilized.

Who lives on Tatooine?Name the different

inhabitants.What is the

population?Is Mos Eisley multi-

cultural? Is Tatooine diverse?How old is a typical

Hutt?

Do all inhabitants speak the same language?

What’s podracing?Are there any disabled

Tusken Raider?Are any characters in

the area mentally challenged?

Warn Someone Diverse!!

Freddie ZeiglerWFO New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA(985) 649-0429 ext. 4Freddie.Zeigler@noaa.gov

Tusken Raider

Jawas

Hutt

Humans