ABSTRACT
The process of becoming culturally sensitive is a lifelong process. Before we learn about others we may encounter in our communities, we need to spend more time learning about ourselves. Your effectiveness in service learning and in helping professions depends on your journey toward being culturally sensitive. Included in this process is the importance of learning about and understanding yourself and accepting the challenges of change. This chapter will address the process of socialization—how we’ve become the person we are today, including our own biases and prejudices. We will explore the various dimensions of personal identity as they relate to ourselves and others and the privileges we have. The chapter will also address a few of the elements we may encounter in the diverse communities we serve: poverty, race, and ethnicity.
