Stand and Deliver

Directions: Ask participants to seat themselves in a circle, in chairs or on the floor, so that they can see everyone. The moderator should stand or sit in the circle. Explain that statements will be read statements that indicate the complexity of diversity and experience. Ask that as each statement is read, those who identify with that statement should stand. Allow time for participants to observe and encourage them to consider the following:

• who is standing or sitting with you
• how you are feeling.

Next, thank participants and ask them to be seated again and read another statement. The entire activity should be done in total silence until the debriefing segment.

1. a male
2. a female
3. born in the U.S.
4. born in another country
5. an only child
6. the youngest child
7. the oldest child
8. the middle child
9. someone who lived away from home
10. African-American
11. Hispanic
12. Arab American
13. Native-American
14. Asian-American/Pacific Islander
15. Middle Eastern
16. a member of an ethnic group not mentioned previously
17. someone who has been raised in a lower-income family
18. someone who has been raised in an upper-income family
19. someone who has been raised in a middle-income family
20. able to speak a language other than English
21. spiritual, but not religious
22. spiritual
23. someone who has seriously questioned your religious beliefs
24. someone who has been teased about your accent or your voice, or told that you could not sing
25. someone who has a family member or a friend who has a disability that you can or cannot see
26. someone who has been raised in a single-parent household
27. someone who has been raised in a household with extended family, such as aunts, uncles and/or grandparents
28. someone who has parents who have been divorced from one another
29. someone who has parents who have been married only to each other for 20 years or more
30. someone who has had a close family member/friend die
31. someone who has both parents still living
32. someone who has felt alone, unwelcome or afraid at some time in your life
33. someone who has been teased or made fun of for wearing glasses, braces, a hearing aid or because of the clothes you wear, your height, weight, complexion, or size or shape of your body
34. someone who has felt pressure from friends or an adult to do something that you did not want to do and felt sorry or shame afterwards
35. someone who has been discriminated against because of your age
36. someone who has been discriminated against because of your gender
37. someone who has been discriminated against because of your race
38. someone who has broken a law and gotten caught
39. someone who has broken a law and not gotten caught
40. someone who has stood by and watched while someone was emotionally or physically hurt and said or did nothing because you were too afraid
41. someone who is planning to speak out and do something from now on when you see someone being pressured to do something they do not want to do
42. someone who has the feeling that one person can make a difference
43. someone who feels that tolerance of diversity is a must if we are to survive as a global community