New Horizons - What's New at Rising Sun

Diversity Training & Consultation

We are very pleased to announce that Rising Sun Consultants will now be offering a full array of Diversity Training & Consultation through our association with our new Senior Associate, Brian C. Johnson. A long time friend and colleague, Brian is presently serving as a faculty member in the department of developmental instruction at Bloomsburg University (PA) and is committed to fostering intercultural relationships and community development. From 2001-2007, Brian served as the director of multicultural affairs and special assistant to the president at Susquehanna University . He is the

founder of the Pennsylvania Association of Liaisons and Officers of Multicultural Affairs, a consortium that promotes best practices in higher education. He is a former trainer with the National Coalition Building Institute and was certified in their prejudice reduction and issues process modules. He is a featured columnist on the Antiracistparent.com website. He also has professional experience in social and human services.

Brian earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English from California University of Pennsylvania, and is currently working toward a doctorate (ABD) from Nova Southeastern University . His research is in the area of racial identity development with specialization in white student racial identity.

Brian is the co-author of Reel Diversity: a Teacher’s Sourcebook (2008; Peter Lang Publishing), a resource manual for teaching diversity and social justice. His second book, We’ve Scene It All Before: Using Film Clips in Diversity Awareness Training will be released by Sense Publishers in the fall of 2009.

Brian is also an ordained minister and serves on the ministry team at Revival Tabernacle in West Milton , PA.

In order o remain competitive in the global marketplace, every business and organization must prepare, promote, and practice cultural diversity. We must do more than "celebrate" diversity, we must seek to understand it. Understanding the differences and affirming the cultural identities of your team can reduce turnover and can build camaraderie among group members.

Listed below are the types of programs now available through Rising Sun Consultants:

Integrating Diversity in Your Strategic Plan

In order for engagement with diversity issues to work, it must be fully integrated into the mission, vision, and daily function of your entire institution. This session focuses on the three imperatives of diversity engagement:  strategic, moral, and educational, and how they impact the working community. The program focuses on building competencies, achieving critical levels of buy-in from all levels of the organization, and how to set benchmarks for diversity goals.

Who am I and What is it to You?

Part of being a culturally competent person is the understanding that individual identity development is impacted by interpersonal relationships and societal norms. At the same time, individual identities also influence others and society. Learn about the intersections of self and society and how understanding this plexus is important for multicultural interactions.

Recruiting for Diversity:  Specialized Training for Managers

Recruiting for diversity is an important part of the mission of most organizations; however, very little training exists on “how to” do it. This program creates opportunities for your hiring managers on vital topics that are crucial to successful recruitment, including: understanding organizational culture; how "Fit" is an anti-diversity code word; reading resumes for diversity; and, how the search committee CAN find diverse talent.

Building a House for Diversity

What could an elephant and a giraffe teach people about working together? Some very important lessons, it seems, about the complex--and critically important--issues of dealing with diversity in the workforce. Using a fable as a vivid metaphor for the difficult issues inherent in diversity, we will demonstrate how managing diversity can be seen as a set of skills that anyone can learn--and use. The “work” of this session will focus on understanding the perspective of both "insiders" (usually white males) and "outsiders" (usually minorities or women) and with hands-on guidance to help participants become "diversity mature" and take personal responsibility for their attitudes and actions.

Responding to Discrimination Claims

Managers often bear the brunt of being the “go-to” person for individuals who have made claims of bias or discrimination and who have felt aggrieved by another member of the professional staff. These can be difficult situations as they have potential “land mines and time bombs” if not handled appropriately. Participants will be given a case study and asked to respond to the situation.