Valuing Diversity, Fostering Inclusive Excellence, and Cultivating Culturally Humble Leaders: A 3-part Educational Journey

The purpose of this 3-part learning series is to prepare Five Rivers Council leadership in their efforts to implement BSA national DEI mission and vision within the council, districts and units. Participants will engage in various opportunities to enhance their multicultural humility skills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Workshop sessions will provide an overview of key terms and frameworks related to diversity, while engaging participants in reflection individually and in small groups about creating inclusive and equitable opportunities. Given the goals of this workshop is to engage in dialogue about diversity-related topics, this workshop series involves participant reflection and conversations and less lecturing by the facilitator.

Session 1: Community Building and Enhancing Multicultural Literacy | Saturday, November 11th, 12-2pm
The purpose of the first workshop is to provide participants with opportunities to engage in community building activities and enhance multicultural literacy skills in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learning goals of the workshop are to:

• Define community values for engaging in DEI-related work authentically;
• Engage in personal reflection about hopes, fears, and commitments related to DEI work;
• Practice communicating across differences about culture, identity, and other DEI-related terms;
• Define DEI-related terms individually and collectively;
• Reflect on social identities and social group memberships;
• Enhance skills related to active listening, critical thinking, and capacity to support Scouts with ethical decision making.

Session 2: Saturday, Feb. 3rd 12-2pm

Session 3: To be held early Q1 2024

Pre-Learning (Things to do prior to the workshop series):

1. Enhance knowledge of the following:

• BSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement:
  • Leading by example and encouraging each other to live by the values expressed by the Scout Oath and Scout Law, we welcome families of all backgrounds to help prepare young people to serve as successful members and leaders of our nation’s increasingly diverse communities.
• BSA DEI Mission: To promote a culture where every youth, volunteer, and employee feels a sense of belonging and to build communities where every person feels respected and valued.
• BSA DEI Vision:  To partner with all families and communities in raising young people of high moral character, developing their leadership skills, and preparing them to serve and thrive in a world of increasing complexity and challenge.

2. Reflect on the following.

• In your own words, what is the purpose of the BSA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mission and Vision?
• How does it align with the BSA mission and vision statements

3. Reflect on your current level of readiness to support FRC on it's misison to embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and to deliver a quality program to the youth in the community we serve.

• How prepared are you?
• What do you need from this workshop series to start and/or continue leading for a more equitable and socially just world?

About the workshop facilitator:

Babatunde Ayanfodun loves being in the trenches, empowering and uplifting those around me, especially our youth. Helping students explore their interests and reach their potential. Connecting them with resources and opportunities in our community.

Working at Corning Community College (CCC) KPD Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as Director/CDO has given him the freedom to be in the community, explore this community, get to know this community, and love this community. At CCC  you can find him
-    Celebrating our student's and community’s  diversity
-    Educating the community through workshops and guest speakers
-    Motivating and advising students
-    Advocating for community members. Helping people identify and access supports and services on campus and in the community.

In addition to working at CCC, he serves as a part-time coordinator for the Elmira City School District My Brother’s Keeper Mentor Program. He plays a small role in the development of the Science Technology Entrepreneurship Leadership Academy, STELA.

Prior to CCC, he served as the coordinator for the Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management Office of Diversity and Emerging Markets Institute providing support to brilliant, ambitious, and inspiring students from all over the world.  

Contact:

Babatunde Ayanfodun (he, him, his)
Director of Katherine P Douglas Center for DEI/Corning Community College CDO
bayanfod@corning-cc.edu
315-575-5778 (text/call)