A Youth Leader's Guide to Building Cultural Competence 

Go to a library and ask a librarian for help. Check out the sociology, anthropology and history 

sections. Read magazines and newspapers targeted to particular communities you want to learn 

about.  

Ask young people, your friends and colleagues for recommendations for novels and non 

fiction books written by members of their cultural group. 

3.  Explore different parts of your town or city. 

4.  Join, or work with, interracial/multicultural organizations. Volunteer to do political work on issues 

that affect people of color or gay/lesbian/bisexual people in your area.  

5.  Expand your own friendship networks. Invite someone of a different race, ethnicity or sexual 

orientation in your office to join your for lunch. Strike up conversations. Do not be afraid to reach out. 

If possible, visit the homes of the young people in your program in order to get to know their parents 

and other family members.  

6.  Learn another language. It is like having another window onto the world and it allows you to think in 

different ways.  

7.  Participate in cultural traditions or community activities.  

Go to ethnic festivals and eat in ethnic restaurants.  

Attend gay/lesbian/bisexual pride parades (held in June every year in many cities).  

Visit a house of worship or go to a religious service if outsiders are welcome.  

Attend a lecture or rally on a topic important to those you want to learn about.  

Go to see any movie in a theater popular with those you are trying to learn about; variations in 

audience reactions to the same film can be fascinating.  

Ask the young people in your program, your colleagues and friends to suggest other 

appropriate activities.  

Organize an ethnic pride festival in your school, church or community center in which teens 

can present information about their group's history, food, music, holidays and religion.  

8.  Find local training and education resources for further cultural competence/prejudice reduction/anti 

racism skills development for yourself, your co workers and your group.