reaching diverse audiences dallas l. holmes, usu extension adapted from an article by lisa a. guion,...

Reaching Diverse Reaching Diverse AudiencesAudiences

Dallas L. Holmes, USU ExtensionDallas L. Holmes, USU ExtensionAdapted from an article by Lisa A. Guion, Florida Adapted from an article by Lisa A. Guion, Florida

State University Cooperative Extension, 2005.State University Cooperative Extension, 2005.

Reaching Diverse AudiencesReaching Diverse Audiences

Changing demographics necessitate changing Changing demographics necessitate changing Extension services to reach diverse audiencesExtension services to reach diverse audiences ..

In Utah, the Hispanic/Latino ethnic group is the second In Utah, the Hispanic/Latino ethnic group is the second most represented population at 9%.most represented population at 9%.

LoganLogan 8.2%8.2% Salt Lake City Salt Lake City 18%18%ProvoProvo 10%10% OgdenOgden 23.5%23.5%

2000 Census, www.census.gov2000 Census, www.census.gov


Why Should Extension Reach out to Why Should Extension Reach out to Diverse Populations?Diverse Populations?

As a publicly funded organization, Extension’s mission is to As a publicly funded organization, Extension’s mission is to serve all Utah citizens.serve all Utah citizens.

Having diverse participants enriches the Extension class Having diverse participants enriches the Extension class setting (new ideas, thoughts, etc).setting (new ideas, thoughts, etc).

Changing demographics may eventually mean change in Changing demographics may eventually mean change in political power structures, perhaps beginning at the local political power structures, perhaps beginning at the local levels. Thus, it is important for Extension to have political levels. Thus, it is important for Extension to have political advocates.advocates.

Diverse Ethnic groups are experiencing increased financial Diverse Ethnic groups are experiencing increased financial viability, which has implications for financial support of viability, which has implications for financial support of Extension.Extension.


Barriers Barriers Fear of the unknownFear of the unknown

It can be difficult to contact It can be difficult to contact people and build people and build relationships with people relationships with people you know little about.you know little about.

It can be difficult to approach It can be difficult to approach people from a culture that people from a culture that is foreign to you.is foreign to you.


BarriersBarriers Preconceptions and Preconceptions and

StereotypesStereotypesOur perceptions are based on Our perceptions are based on

our own experiences, beliefs, our own experiences, beliefs, values and environment.values and environment.

Our experiences are normal, Our experiences are normal, everyone else is “WEIRD”everyone else is “WEIRD”

“Preconceptions and stereotypes function as negative lenses through which people perceive others who look, think or behave differently.” --Mikel Hogan-Garcia


Overcoming the BarriersOvercoming the Barriers Understanding and Understanding and

communicating with a communicating with a diverse group is a diverse group is a learned skill or habit.learned skill or habit.

A melding of A melding of desiredesire, , knowledgeknowledge and and skillskill is is necessary to be an necessary to be an effective communicator.effective communicator.


Overcoming the BarriersOvercoming the Barriers Be an Be an activeactive learner learner

Active learning involves Active learning involves lifestyle changes, seeking lifestyle changes, seeking opportunities to opportunities to communicate with diverse communicate with diverse groups. groups. You must You must voluntarily get involved in voluntarily get involved in their community.their community.

UseUse critical critical thinkingthinking

Learn to identify your own biases Learn to identify your own biases and then disregard them. Insist and then disregard them. Insist on accurate information.on accurate information.

Look at the Look at the humanity in humanity in everyoneeveryone

Regardless of differences, most Regardless of differences, most people want health, safety, people want health, safety, economic security and their economic security and their children’s success.children’s success.


It is easy to value commonalities in people. It It is easy to value commonalities in people. It is far more difficult to honor, appreciate, and is far more difficult to honor, appreciate, and respect differences.respect differences.

It is necessary, in the increasingly diverse It is necessary, in the increasingly diverse climate we live in, to embrace those climate we live in, to embrace those differences and allow them to improve the differences and allow them to improve the quality of our programs and services.quality of our programs and services.

ReferencesReferences Corey, M.S., & Corey, G. Corey, M.S., & Corey, G.

(2003). (2003). Becoming a HelperBecoming a Helper. . Pacific Grove, CA: Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.Brooks/Cole.

Guion, L.A. (1999). The Guion, L.A. (1999). The Diversity Challenge: Diversity Challenge: Programming in Extension Programming in Extension in the New Millenium. in the New Millenium. North Carolina Cooperative North Carolina Cooperative Extension, NC State Extension, NC State UniversityUniversity

Guion, L.A. (2005). Guion, L.A. (2005). Reaching Reaching Diverse Audiences.Diverse Audiences. Florida Florida Cooperative Extension, FL Cooperative Extension, FL State University.State University.

Hogan-Garcia, M. (2003). Hogan-Garcia, M. (2003). The The Four Skills of Cultural Four Skills of Cultural Diversity CompetenceDiversity Competence. Pacific . Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/ColeGrove, CA: Brooks/Cole

reaching diverse audiences dallas l. holmes, usu extension adapted from an article by lisa a. guion,...

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