Traditionally, Iowans are open and welcoming to
outsiders. We remain curious about people who live and think
differently from us. Other communities have felt racial tensions as
different ethnic groups come together. Around the globe, we have seen
that ethnic groups coming together tend to strengthen national
identities and polarize differences. Iowans, however, face the growth
of a diverse population at an opportune time. We know we must embrace a
global economy and are excited by its potential.
Make a World of Difference - Become a Presenter
Download a Cultural Ambassador Job Description and Application Here
CULTUREALL™ welcomes presenters willing to share their experience, knowledge, and love of cultures.
We are looking for presentations that are interactive and hands-on, enabling students to experience another culture through playing instruments, tasting food, trying on clothing, washing hands the native way, writing or speaking the language.
Cultural education like the kind we provide is a top priority for many other reasons:
- Preparing for the Global Economy with skill and grace as jobs and educational opportunities expand beyond US borders.
- So that No Child’s Left Behind – playfully guiding audiences through new concepts and thought processes, engaging their curiosities for learning.
- Expanding Citizen Diplomacy with face-to-face, cross-cultural encounters that bring understanding and appreciation.
- Reinforcing Character Counts through cross-cultural experiences that prepare students for cross-cultural conflict despite attempts to act with character.
- Complying with Iowa Code – which states that “global perspectives shall be incorporated into all levels of the educational program” (Iowa Code, 256.11).
- Fostering Inclusion – as the student who feels out of place or invisible suddenly feels respected and validated because he knows the same language and customs as the presenter.
As CULTUREALL™ nurtures youth to develop skill, readiness and grace in intercultural relations, we offer what text books, research projects and theories cannot: emotional contact with challenging situations in which students discover their feelings, attitudes, desires and fears. After working the chores, trying on the clothing, dancing to the music, playing the instruments, celebrating the festivals, listening to the accents and learning the language, CULTUREALL™participants are proud to proclaim, “I know about that! I did that in school!” The enthusiasm they feel from the experiences leads them to discover new things about themselves, their classmates and the world around them. Such students want to engage as respectful, responsible and responsive global citizens.
Workshop Design
CULTUREALL™ works with each Cultural Ambassador to develop a workshop based upon the Cultural Ambassador’s interests and expertise. Workshops are 30- to 60-minute interactive, hands-on, immersion experiences for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. These workshops may focus on a specific culture or they may examine a topic spanning several cultures (see examples below.) These workshops challenge students to shift their perspectives, solve problems, respect diversity, work cooperatively and more.
Each workshop offers students
- At least one activity
- At least one story
- At least one artifact, and
- And an explanation of how each activity, story or artifact provides a deeper understanding of culture.
Current Cultural Ambassadors - Fill in your workshop description below: