ASDC Projects: APA Valuing Diversity Initiative

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A PROJECT OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT?

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

The American Psychological Association (APA), with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is sponsoring a project to enhance the capacity of communities to value diversity. The project’s objectives are to:

Support two communities with technical assistance and seed funding of $20,000 each to help them adopt and adapt promising strategies to strengthen the ways in which they value diversity in the areas of race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability ;
Develop partnerships between communities that value diversity;
Facilitate the transfer of promising strategies between communities that value diversity; and
To disseminate the lessons learned and resources developed through this project to communities, organizations, government agencies, and foundations across the country.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for two types of communities with a committment to valuing diversity.

1. Communities Wanting to Value Their Diversity
Two communities will be selected to receive technical assistance and seed money of $20,000 to adopt an award-winning strategy for valuing diversity. Community organizations, local governments, community foundations, and other organizations that are committed to helping their community value diversity are encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 15, 2001

2. Communities with Promising Strategies
We are looking for communities with a promising strategy for valuing diversity. Five of these communities will receive an award from APA and the Society for Community Research and Action. These communities will also be supported to provide assistance to another community that that would like to adopt their award winning strategy for valuing diversity.

--UPDATE!-- DEADLINE EXTENDED
In an effort to maximize the resources available to communities who want to value their diversity, we are going to extend the deadline for communities who have promising strategies who would like to be included in our database and be eligible for the award. If you would like for your promising strategy to be included in our database and be eligible for the award please download the application form and submit by February 16, 2001.

TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION B, CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS: .pdf or Word 97 version

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT?

The two communities will provide any additional information required by APA to determine the communities’ readiness to adopt and adapt promising strategies for valuing diversity.

The two communities will be expected to participate in an evaluation process. The evaluation will examine, analyze, and document the lessons learned about the strategy transfer process and the effectiveness and impact of the promising strategies that were adopted and adapted.

The two communities will also be expected to engage representatives from diverse sectors and groups through an existing structure (e.g., community council), or form an advisory committee if there is not an existing structure to guide the strategy adoption and adaptation process.

An Advisory Committee composed of members of the American Psychological Association will review the applications once all have been received. The selection of communities who will receive the assistance will be made by March 16, 2001. Selected communities will be notified by mail and by telephone.

WHAT IS VALUING DIVERSITY?

A community that Values Diversity should:

Promote or incorporate diversity as an asset or community strength;

Demonstrate ongoing appreciation, sensitivity, and respect for those who are different from the majority;

Actively promote full participation and representation of all groups;

Continually take action to address racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice;

Address multiple identities and diversities within the community in order to maximize the positive potential of diversity;

Recognize and affirm group identities and affiliations and allows room for intra-group discussions;

Understand power, privilege, and oppression and integrate that understanding into all actions toward diversity enhancements;

Integrate strategies that value diversity at all levels of decision-making; and

Promote partnerships and relationship building across differences.

Questions and inquiries should be directed to:

Valuing Diversity Project
c/o Association for the Study and Development of Community
438 North Frederick Ave, Suite 315
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
1-877-441-9710 ext. 103
ValuingDiversity@capablecommunity.com

A Project of the American Psychological Association's Public Interest Directorate