Cultural Training Part 1...

I have coached multicultural and diversity training for several people. The underlying comment that forces the uncomfortable talk is the perception of fault & the resulting attitude.

For example:
Asian Woman makes a comment that generalizes black people as lazy. Black woman says that offended me. White woman states, "This is why I don't make comments in these types of seminars. Everyone is so sensitive & now if Isay anything Iwill be seen as a racist!"

Black Woman is offended by this comment, but doesn't say anything to White Woman for fear that she will be seen as "bitter". White woman continues to feed the ill gotten attitude & intolerance festers without addressing the original concerns of offense. The topic has shifted from the action or statement that causes the ill feelings to the feeling itself.

In this instance... I challenged everyone in the room to be sensitive... to others & themselves. If you are offended, you would like for the other person to acknowledge their offense, make amends and move forward. If you say something to a friend, regardless of ethnicity and/or cultural background, and it offends them and they mention it to you; would you make sure the situation is resolved. Would you blame them for being sensitive or offended by your words or actions. Generally speaking, NO... as a friend you would do everything in your power to apologize to your friends and make them understand you meant no harm. This attitude should be no different when you interact with strangers.

Asking someone to come to your house is not the same as visiting them. By this I mean, don't use the additive " I have _____ friends, or I invited a _______ person to my house." This does not excuse you from stepping out of your bubble of comfort to experience another zone! You may have black friends... but are you a friend to them. You may have invited a homosexual to your birthday party, but have you attended birthday party for them.

I know, birds of a feather flock together. We as people are naturally attracted to people that we admire for some quality... usually a similar physical trait. The goal is to go beyond the surface to see that we are all the same crap underneath! Bones, blood, & a human connection!



LaKisha Geans
Media & Public Relations
GeanPool Consulting
www.GeanPoolPR.com

Listen... To Be Heard!

Hystercetomy at 30.... Men-a- what.....

I am glad birth control failed me... It failed miserably. 4 children later, I have pre-teens... Uhhh.

My doctor's words "I guess you part of the 1/100th of percent that birth control doesn't work"
My words " If I get pregnant again, I am suing you for child support".

My husband & I celebrate our 11 year anniversary in March. We have 4 beautiful children, and I still LOOK young enough to pass for the older sister when they turn 21! (I will not be the old chick at the club... just a mother having fun with her kids!)

Seriously, I wanted a large family & didn't want to be in my 30's popping out children. For me I got exactly what I wanted... without knowing it! Last year I had a hysterectomy & now I am....

For once... no longer in pain. No more shall I be forced to visit the isolation tent for days on end. No more does the amount of luggage in carry on a weekend trip determined by the day of the month... (Or if I was to even go!).

I can enjoy roller coasters again. I can enjoy swimming ALL summer. I can leave behind the fear of someone knowing and live a "normal" life. For some women, a menstrual cycle is just another annoying part of being a woman... like shaving your legs...

For other women, like me, a menstrual cycle is a curse befallen the female species that forces excruciating pain, wild mood swings, hot flashes, depression, severe bloating, and nauseating fatigue for 7-10 days every month. It makes things worse when you have endemetriosis, a wonderful ailment that causes the lining of your uterus to grow into the muscle... OUCH!

Not a bad deal in the end. 3 weeks of pain, for happiness for the rest of my life!

What do you think?


LaKisha Geans
Media & Public Relations
GeanPool Consulting
www.GeanPoolPR.com

Listen... To Be Heard!

New Years Thoughts

Hello All, This is a few days old... but this is Early Morning View from U60 East Here in Phoenix!!!

Well Happy New Year! It is officially been a Year of 2009 for me... See I believe the first twelve days of the year mimic the general feeling of what to expect for the coming months. The first 12 days were great so I see happiness & change for the new year.

It is also a belief of mine to disregard resolutions... I make them & its funny when I have "toasted" the new year... but true resolve comes from experiencing challenges a daily basis. As they say, "Its easy to SAY, Hard to do!" Instead I make life changes.

They don't happen over night... but every day it becomes a part of my routine, instead of the initial piercing in my spine to the center of my nerve irritating chore!

To those who know me... you would never guess the hardships I have experienced in my life... For those who KNOW me... you constantly doubt my sincere happiness with life because you know what I've experienced. Well this is me... I get annoyed, I get mad, I cry, I laugh till I pee on myself, I SMILE!

I forgive people, almost as fast as there is an issue. I forgive myself for the bad choices in life, because they make me the woman I am today. I pray daily for God to grant me serenity. I have one guilty pleasure... but I am working on that!!!

I pray for Love, Peace & Happiness in your life... and I give you the gift of RESOLVE!!!

In the words of Rascal Flatts: (GOD I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!)
I'm gonna stop looking back, start looking on... learn how to face my fears
Love with all my heart, make my mark, I wanna leave something here
Go out on a ledge, without any net, that's what I'm gonna be about
I wanna be running (I insert smiling or laughing) when the sand runs out!


LaKisha Geans
Media & Public Relations
GeanPool Consulting
www.GeanPoolPR.com

Listen... To Be Heard!