Organization Members Exchange
The organization members exchange program brings together community members connected to grassroots organizations from different racial and ethnic communities. The events in the series have varied in format, but all seek to expose attendees to the perspectives of other communities to build cross-racial empathy and solidarity. The programs typically feature members sharing their own stories, so that members of other communities can hear from or speak directly to one another. As a result, programs often require multilingual translation for two or more non-English languages. The programs also aim to involve both adults and youth from each organization to facilitate intergenerational perspective-sharing.
By engaging in dialogue with members of other communities and getting a glimpse of their daily lives, participants leave with a better understanding of and more empathy for other racial and ethnic communities. For example, after visiting single residency occupancy units in Chinatown, members of Coleman Advocates, a Black and Brown-led organization, felt injustice on behalf of low-income Chinese immigrants living in such cramped conditions. And after visiting with Black community members in Bayview, a neighborhood in San Francisco with a large Black community, CPA members felt empathy for Black communities who are missing elders due to structural racism and health inequities.
Format Ideas
Scavenger hunt
We used a scavenger hunt to embed learning about community and neighborhood history in a fun game. The scavenger hunt clues helped participants understand the lives of Chinatown residents by drawing on the history and stories of different physical sites. We intentionally organized small, mixed-language, and intergenerational teams. We embedded bilingual interpreters in the teams to facilitate conversations. Against the backdrop of a fun and educational game, teammates shared personal stories, explored their values, and made connections to their understandings of race, class, and community safety.
People’s forum
We organized a multiracial group to attend a summit that focused on the top concerns facing district residents. The purpose of the event was to discuss policy topics, such as school closures and community safety, and identify hopes and demands that emerged across racial and ethnic groups. The event included topic-specific breakout rooms with bilingual interpreter support, intra-language table discussions, and cross-community/cross-language discussions. These discussion formats allowed people to explore their own thoughts on issues while engaging with different opinions from other individuals, both inside and outside of their own racial, ethnic, or language groups.
Neighborhood tour
Another exchange featured a tour led by Coleman Advocates staff of Bayview, a historically Black neighborhood in San Francisco. The tour discussed the neighborhood’s activism and organizing history and explored the impact of redevelopment and gentrification. Along the way, staff and members shared stories about where they felt most deeply rooted. Coleman Advocates staff and members with roots in Bayview connected their stories to the neighborhood's history of activism and ongoing struggles against injustice.
Resident leadership
CCDC’s cross-cultural events are typically organized in collaboration with resident leaders and resident groups. For example, the Ping Yuen unity block party was co-organized with the Ping Yuen Residents Improvement Association. Involving residents in decision making and leadership roles helps make events more culturally competent and accessible. It also cultivates additional event stakeholders who can encourage attendance.
Pilgrimage to a culturally significant site
One exchange brought youth to an Indigenous People’s Day sunrise ceremony on Alcatraz Island. Youth members of AROC, Coleman Advocates, and CPA joined the ceremony hosted by the International Indian Treaty Council. Prior to the ceremony, CPA conducted a teach-in to learn about indigenous resistance, cultural resilience, and survival in the Americas.
Additional tip
Physical mementos can help extend people’s experiences of the event. For example, a reflection booklet with pre-written prompts can help people process their thoughts and serve as a memory keeper. Other mementos, such as flowers, hats, and bags, serve as physical reminders of the event.
Keys to Success
Create a nurturing, calm, and fun space
No matter what format you choose, prioritize fun, relationship-building, and human connection. Magic happens when you bring members of different organizations together because people are eager to share and learn about each other. However, there is a risk that exchanges can become transactional, voyeuristic, or harmful in other ways. Be mindful to create a space that everyone can enjoy, even when being vulnerable, by giving people space to share in their own time. This might look like including activities to build connections and occupy time if people are not ready to share on a deeper level. Moreover, fun activities keep the atmosphere light and help people feel at ease.
Firsthand storytelling and perspectives
We saw that as long as we created spaces for our members to share stories, be vulnerable, and understand each other’s experiences more fully, we could build a foundation for trust. In one program, Black and Chinese parents shared how they felt stereotyped and how stereotypes impacted their children in school-settings. This allowed participants to empathize with each other and connect on the common ground of caring for their children.
Facilitate dialogue and shared experiences
There are multiple ways to facilitate dialogue and shared experiences, big and small. In addition to organizing games and embedding bilingual interpreters, organizational staff can make warm introductions. For example, in the district summit, CPA and Coleman built in opportunities for their members to interact with each other. Before the main event, CPA and Coleman members held a welcome and grounding space, so that members could recognize each other within a large event attended by multiple organizations. Additionally, while attendees were waiting in line for lunch, CPA and Coleman staff facilitated interactions between their members. Members were happy to meet each other and praised each other for their work.
Ample translation equipment and support
Translation resources were key to these events, whether it was through thoughtfully pre-translated materials, preparation documents for translators, or extra translation staff. Additional translators allow for smaller conversation groups. Having ample translation staff also creates flexibility in case there is a larger than expected turnout or changes in the agenda that feature more dynamic groupings or breakout rooms.
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