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ABOUT EVENTS News PROGRAMS & SERVICES FACT SHEETS TOPICS COUNTY OFFICES
ABOUT EVENTS News PROGRAMS & SERVICES FACT SHEETS TOPICS COUNTY OFFICES
Ferguson College of AgAg Research
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Create a Welcoming Environment

View the lessons for how to create a welcoming environment as a facilitator. Embracing these ideas to learn more about others will help you to feel more comfortable working with diverse audiences; however, you will also want your audience to be comfortable and feel welcome at your educational programs.

 

Here are a few ideas that will help you create a welcoming learning atmosphere. 

  1. First, use empathy and intuition to understand a diverse point of view. Always be open and understanding. Try to find common ground. People feel most comfortable with each other when they have things in common. Also, understand that there are many differences within one culture. People are different even when they are from the same cultural background. 
  2. Treat everyone equitably, fairly, with kindness, and treat everyone as an individual. Embrace and celebrate that we are all different. Although we like to have things in common with people, it is fun and educational to be around people that are different from you. Also, it is best to appreciate that you can learn and share knowledge and information with others. 
  3. Be careful with your words. Use words that are inclusive and do not exclude any person or culture. 
  4. Accept that although you may have a good way to do something, there is usually another way it can be done. Enjoy these different ways. 
  5. Humor is great, but be certain that your jokes are not condescending to any individual or group. 
  6. There are many protected rights of individuals – religion, sexual orientation, political views, etc. At an Extension educational program, these personal beliefs should not be shared. 
  7. Question yourself. How do you really feel about people who are different than you? If you are uncomfortable or uneasy with different people, it is easy for this to show and for others to feel uncomfortable being with you. Working with diverse audiences is showing acceptance and remembering to show respect for everyone. 

Homework 

Please complete the following for your city/county: 

  • County/City: 
  • Population: 
  • % Change in population over past 10 years: 
  • Age Distribution of population: 
  • Education level: (high school graduates, bachelor’s degree or higher) 
  • Racial breakdown: 
  • Median Household income: 
  • % living in poverty: 
  • Primary language spoken at home: 
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