Moreover, members of each group do not share all the same values and cultures. OCES faculty and staff need to look at these differences, understand them, and become more comfortable in reaching audiences different from themselves. Diversity is more than ethnic origin. It is also age, class, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and other differences. The OCES faculty and staff need to be motivated and have the tools to be more confident in working with culturally different persons.
Performance appraisals reflect the importance of reaching new audiences.
Staff who are not effective in targeting new clients need support and information about working with diverse groups to achieve that goal. Funding Funding from three sources made the program possible. To increase participation, leadership, and influence of diverse membership of county Program Advisory Committees to develop targeted programs for new, diverse audiences. The strategies included a general overview of diversity and then experiential learning activities. The general seminar featured Gae Broadwater and Alice Meade from the CES National Center for Diversity as the session leaders.