Cultural Competency Work Committee Retreat

About three weeks ago, the Cultural Competency Work Committee, which is responsible for promoting cultural and diversity awareness within our clinic, held our annual day retreat at Bonnie's house in San Francisco. 

The committee (which is co-chaired this year by me and Lindsey McDaniel) is composed of staff and clients from diverse ethnic, religious, and sociocultural backgrounds who are seen (in photo) enjoying a multicultural potluck meal while discussing goals for the upcoming year. 

This committee has been instrumental in helping to organize our previous film festival at the clinic and is an ardent supporter of the Intermedia Arts Project. Given the variety of views represented in our committee, the CCWC is poised to provide much needed perspective and guidance to the Intermedia Arts Project. 

At this retreat, our main point of discussion and planning revolved around our upcoming workshop/inservice on RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY & MENTAL ILLNESS. The members agreed that religion and spirituality play an important role in the lives of our clients as well as staff and that this would be a workshop that is long overdue. We will invite a group of inter-faith panelists who will address their work & ministry. 

During the workshop, we will also showcase a video on spirituality that will be put together by the Intermedia Arts Project. The date of the workshop is scheduled for November 4th, 2009 from 2:00PM-4:00PM at Citywide & Community Focus Center.