Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
PROJECT

The primary goal of this proposed training project is to enhance community health organizations' ability to better address the needs of the largest historical Black communities in Miami (Liberty City, Overtown, Little Haiti, and Coconut Grove). Over eight meeting sessions (4 in person, 4 virtual), participants will be introduced to the ways socio-historical experiences and cultural norms continue to inform the wellbeing, service engagement and perceptions of service providers. Sessions will build upon one another, with a final workshop focused on developing a concrete dissemination product that draws from the skills and knowledge gained  sessions (e.g. linguistically and contextually relevant infographic, Public Service Announcement, Commitment to Clients statement).

Specifically, participation in these sessions will:

• increase participants awareness of the socio historical experiences of Black communities in Miami, and the relevance of these traumas/ social injustices to current health inequities

• expand attendees' understanding of the social and cultural norms impacting mental health wellness and service access within Miami’s Black communities. 

• build upon prior DEI trainings to provide tools for utilizing cultural humility and intersection lens to achieve wholistic understandings of Black clients health needs in Miami communities

• enhance community health providers ability to engage in culturally responsive service practices through the provision of relevant strategies and tools

All workshops will be taught by local professional and community experts. As workshop content is designed to  provide participants with applicable, concrete skills they can use right away it is necessary that participants attend all four topic sessions. Workshops will be held at the Affirming YOUth offices in Liberty City or via virtual online settings where noted. All members of the Affirming YOUth Collaborative and their organizational affiliations' colleagues would be welcome to participate in this free workshop series. 

“It is the roots which give a tree strength, not its branches.” It is important to understand the complex historical experiences and development of Black communities in Miami. The political, social and economic history of Miami's African American, Haitian, and Caribbean communities will be discussed in the context of current social and health inequities.

These two sessions will include:

1. A bus tour of Black Miami that introduces participants to socio historical factors shaping wellbeing across these communities

2. Virtual Reflection Cafe where participants will have the opportunity to debrief, share, and connect over topics that emerged during the tour.
    

TARGET AUDIENCE:
Clinicians & Practitioners, Community Organizations, Health Educators, Researchers

Ethical and Empathetic Practices in the Community

Cultural awareness and sensitive are essential to for implementing successful client-centered care in Miami's Black communities. This workshop builds on the knowledge gained in the previous session by now focusing on developing skills to interrupt bias in a healthcare setting  and concludes with points on what it means to center cultural humility in when working with Black clients  and their communities. 

These two sessions will include:

1. An interactive session that will providing applied cultural humility skills for working with clients in Miami’s Black communities. 

2. A Virtual Reflection Cafe where participants will have the opportunity to debrief, share, and connect over topics that emerged during the World Cafe activity.
    

TARGET AUDIENCE:
Clinicians & Practitioners, Community Organizations, Health Educators, Researchers

Understanding Black Cultural Beliefs about Mental Health and Wellness

Understanding the ways in which health- mental, physical, social, and emotional- is defined across Miami's diverse Black Communities will enhance providers ability to provide effective and connective health services. This workshop provides cultural frameworks for identifying wellbeing language, knowledge, and needs from the position of community members. 

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These two sessions will include:

1. An interactive presentation introducing cross cultural concepts  and World Cafe strategizing session to identify culturally relevant spaces and places for .

2. Virtual Reflection Cafe where participants will have the opportunity to debrief, share, and connect over topics that emerged during the World Cafe
    

TARGET AUDIENCE:
Clinicians & Practitioners, Community Organizations, Health Educators, Researchers

Creating Site Relevant DEI Products/ Tools for Practice with Miami's Black Communities

To improve individual health and build healthy communities, health care providers need to recognize and address Miami's Black communities' unique culture, language and health literacy of diverse consumers and communities. This session will bring together community experts in the areas of media, team building, and other communication areas to guide participants' creation of product that targets the needs of the community from a client centered perspective. 

These two sessions will include:

1. A team building activity to identify a dissemination product that addresses a linguistic, social, informational or interpersonal needs in the Black communities they serve.

2. Virtual Reflection Cafe where participants will have the opportunity to debrief, share, and connect over topics that emerged during the product development and dissemination workshop
    

TARGET AUDIENCE:
Clinicians & Practitioners, Community Organizations, Health Educators, Researchers