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Reid, Lynda

College of Education and Social Services

2004

Ed. D.

Definitions of multiculturalism vary; some only consider race, some only race and ethnicity, and others encompass the range of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and exceptionality. I submit that it is time to reframe the term "multicultural," to break beyond the limitations of categories that divide us into specific groups. It is time for multicultural to be active, describing the actions necessary to build bridges that connect and honor each of us as a unique, multifaceted, and dynamic individual. To me, multiculturalism is comprised of four components. First, multiculturalism is the ability to be open, to release judgment. Second, multiculturalism is.the ability to work toward understanding and acceptance. Third, multiculturalism is the practice of patience and tolerance with others, and fourth, multiculturalism is respect. "Respect" includes a respect for differences in ideas, beliefs, values, and norms. . . Everything is personal. We are all influenced by our ethnicity, race, gender, spirituality, sexual orientation, and exceptionalities. I assert in this dissertation, that multicultural leadership is about the person; it is not about the boss, or the manager, or a position of power. Multicultural leadership involves one's ability to balance one's consciously aware "real-self" with one's consciously aware "leader-self." The greater one's ability to do this, the more others will believe and want to follow. It is the ability to live and lead from one's core, from who one really is, not from old repeated patterns of conditioned behavior or from an assigned role.
Multicultural leadership is not about maintaining the status quo; but about making things happen. Multicultural leaders foster pluralist dialogue by bringing together diverse groups of people in respectful, active, and challenging conversation. Multicultural leaders create places for acceptance that provide opportunities for promoting respect. This dissertation is a scholarly personal narrative that reviews my journey towards multicultural leadership from my years growing up and teaching in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to living and teaching in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to living and teaching in Burlington, Vermont, U.S.A. My journey is intended as a guide for others to reflect upon their own lives and lessons, and to continue their personal journey toward multicultural leadership.