Member Spotlight

Candace Kash

Facilitator in Training

Candace Kash vividly recalls a moment she had as a young girl growing up in the south.  Her parents had taken her to a park on a hot summer day, and she was thirsty.  The family found two drinking fountains, one labeled 'white' and the other 'colored'.  "I thought the labels referred to the color of the water," Candace said, "and why would I want 'white' water?  I headed for the 'colored' fountain.  I just couldn't grasp that [people] would segregate."  Her parents, ardent supporters of the civil rights movement, shared her sentiment, and their views had a profound influence on Candace's life. 

After spending the first part of her career in an administrative/clerical role, Candace decided she wanted to pursue work about which she was passionate.  It was during her search for this role that she learned of the Diversity Council and the opportunity to become a facilitator. 

She began working as a program evaluator for Ability Building Center (ABC), and really enjoyed working one-on-one with students.  This interest, coupled with a belief in the Diversity Council's message and programs ("It's important to start at the ground up when working with people on issues," she says) inspired her to apply for a facilitator position to complement her work at ABC. 

Training to become a Diversity Council facilitator requires a significant time commitment.  The incoming cohort of facilitator trainees spend 30 hours training before they interview for a permanent position.  "[After four 3-hour sessions], we've had presentations and discussions about body image, gender, sexism, race and why diversity is important to address," Candace says, "After class, we take time to think, read and reflect.  We also have a blog on which we can share our thoughts."  

More importantly, training demands a commitment to self-examination.  Candace explains, "[anyone interested in becoming a facilitator] must be prepared to look at where they are, and not expect it to be perfect.  Sometimes our pre-conceived notions are hard to overcome." 

Prejudice is part of human nature, and is beneficial in many situations.  However, identifying our prejudices and biases helps increase our awareness of how we respond to certain individuals before they turn into action, i.e. discrimination.  The process of raising self-awareness is essential to effective facilitation. 

Candace says, "Facilitation is about teaching yourself, as well as others.  [In the classroom] you don't want the focus to be on you and the ideas you espouse.  [As a facilitator] you are not the center of the room." 

Instead, Prejudice Reduction Workshops (PRW) are centered on students.  “The workshops make kids more conscious of what they say and what it means,” says Candace. 

She observes a need for that kind of dialogue within her own family.  “My niece and nephew sometimes say ‘that’s so retarded’ [about others’ actions].  The thing is, people with mental retardation would probably not make that decision, either!  It bothers me when medical labels are turned into pejoratives.”  Candace has seen the detrimental effects of this firsthand.  “The people I work with [at ABC] that are the most unhappy have the feeling it is not OK to be disabled.  The labels we put on ourselves and let others put on us can be limiting.” 

Candace views the chance to become a Diversity Council facilitator as a “really great opportunity” to help students see past generalized labels to the unique individual hidden behind them. 

“I feel like I’ve already had a good experience [in the training], even if I am not chosen as a facilitator.  I’ve had the opportunity to meet interesting people, to talk to them instead of just passing on the street and to watch each other change and grow.” 

It is people like Candace and other Diversity Council members who are creating an inclusive and welcoming community, one conversation at a time.   

1130 1/2 7th St NW, Suite 204 , Rochester, MN 55901 · Tel: 507.282.9951 · Fax: 507.282.9964 · info@diversitycouncil.org

Diversity...It's all about respect.