The ABCs of Diversity: Helping Kids (and Ourselves!) Embrace Our Differences

Learn the language of diversity and raise kids who respect differences and honor similarities. The ABCs of Diversity equips parents, teachers, and community leaders to have intergenerational and intercultural conversations about the differences between us. In addition to discussions of race, intercultural dialogue involves understanding our differences related to political affiliation, gender, class, religion, ability, nationality, and sexual orientation. This book helps parents and teachers of children, youth, and young adults navigate conversations about differences so they can raise up individuals committed to respectful civic engagement. Such intercultural dialogues can support communities as they work for the mutual well-being of all. This book includes specific resources and activities for persons of various ages that parents and community leaders can employ to encourage compassion and empathy. An ideal resource for teachers, parents, ministry personnel, non-profit leaders, human resources directors, and librarians.

Carolyn B. Helsel, PhD, has focused her research on different approaches to talking about diversity. Helsel speaks regularly at churches and conferences on the subject of helping white people talk about racism, and she is currently working with her local school district to increase its cultural competence. Raised in Texas, she has worked as a chaplain in a hospital at the US-Mexico border, as an administrator in a seminary in Princeton, as a pastor in Central Texas and New England, and currently as a professor in Austin.

Dr. Y. Joy Harris-Smith is adept in dealing with issues of communication and culture. She is a trained New York City special education teacher and has over 17 years of experience teaching junior high school youth through graduate school. Her wealth of experience, excellence in teaching and scholarship have been demonstrated in the classroom as well as in two books and top journal. Currently, Dr. Harris-Smith serves as a full-time Lecturer in Speech Communication in Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary.