Illinois Extension work is far-reaching and ever-changing. The professional staff and volunteers who lead this work are essential to our organization’s strengths. Extension’s placement in our local communities offers a uniqueness that allows us to engage in collaborative relationships, while simultaneously leading efforts to create inclusive and accessible learning environments. Extension work influences and helps shape positive outcomes with lifelong impact for individuals and families or households. Extension professionals often serve as community-engaged scholars and practitioners who work with community groups and members to assess needs and design educational opportunities that are people-focused and learner-centered. 

Since we are positioned to provide effective community-engaged work, we are also situated to help create community connections, support respectful spaces, and foster an environment of belonging. As we wrap up celebrations for LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and other identities) Pride Month this June, let us continue to increase our knowledge and awareness.

According to a 2023 report from the Pew Research Center:

• 7 percent of Americans identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual;
• 1.6 percent of U.S. adults are transgender or non-binary, (that is their gender differs from the sex they were assigned at birth), and;
• While a relatively small share of U.S. adults is transgender or nonbinary, four-in-ten U.S. adults (44 percent) say they personally know someone who is trans, and 20 percent know someone who is non-binary. 

Awareness not only provides highlights about our shared and complex history, but it also connects us as humans. Through a cultural humility lens, we can grow from awareness to become lifelong learners who recognize and challenge power imbalance and hold our institutions accountable (Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998). Cultural humility is an ongoing process of self-exploration and self-critique with a willingness to learn from others. It provides some key learning opportunities for each of us.

Lifelong Learning and Critical Self-Reflection

Critical self-reflection helps us recognize that everyone is a multi-dimensional being with histories, stories, and identities rooted in their histories. When we develop programs based on the needs of our service areas, we engage in activities that aim to improve individual and community outcomes.  However, our needs assessments do not always capture cultural nuances, marginalized and minoritized identities, and the unique experiences that influence how community members engage with Extension. Therefore, humility serves as a prerequisite for community-based work and critical self-reflection is vital to all the work we do across the state.

Recognize and Challenge Power Imbalance

Cultural humility requires us to recognize and question power imbalances to have respectful and meaningful relationships with others. One example I often think about is how we communicate who we are within our organization. As a cisgender woman, with English as my primary language and someone who is a parent, I often don’t hesitate to share relevant anecdotes about my personal experiences and loved ones in different professional spaces. What about you? How do you incorporate your experiences and identities in the stories you share in your training, workshops, meetings, and other group settings? Are these spaces open for everyone to share? Power imbalances exist even in the ways we share who we are internally and externally.

Another way I think about power imbalance is our relationships with community partners. Our partners help us understand community needs beyond surveying. When we enter a partnership ego-less and with humility, we set the tone to learn from our collaborators about the youth and adult LGBTQ+ populations they serve. This also provides the opening to respectfully explore how our evidence-based processes can best complement or support what they do in their day-to-day.

Institutional Accountability

We all play a role in helping to create an organizational culture of belonging. Individual accountability allows us to hold each other responsible for our words and actions. Institutional accountability is an ongoing process of building trust and respectful relationships. As an institution that has been around for over 100 years, Extension will continue to evolve to meet the needs of those we serve. It is a part of our responsibility to understand what is happening in processes that limit or reduce the rights of the LGBTQ+ population. The Trevor Project’s legislation tracker indicated there are over 600 anti-LGBTQ bills related to curriculum, schools, healthcare, bathrooms, and sports in 2023. However, they [The Trevor Project] assisted in blocking over 300 of the bills that were considered. We are still learning about the implications for people across this country through these proposals and actions. As such, a cultural humility lens is essential to learning and better understanding what members of our local communities are facing.

While Pride Month 2024 ends on June 30, our work is ongoing to create welcoming and affirming spaces throughout Illinois Extension settings. Regardless of our roles, we can help provide opportunities in different spaces where no one’s value is diminished in those spaces because of their identity. We can learn together. We can grow together. We can elevate each other.

“Pride is a celebration of community, resilience, and LGBTQ+ history and culture.” The Trevor Project.

References

• Brown, A. (2023). 5 key findings about LGBTQ+ Americans. Retrieved from Pew Research, 2024 June.
• Tervalon, M. & Murray-Garcia, J. (1998). Cultural humility versus cultural competence: a critical distinction in defining physician training outcomes in multicultural education. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 9(2), 117-125. 
• The Trevor Project. (2023). Good reasons to feel proud around pride. Retrieved from The Trevor Project, 2024 June.

Resource

• Wallace Bechard. (2023, January 26). Integrating Cultural Humility in Programs and Partnerships [video]. Illinois Media Space.