Twenty-fourth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Based on seven years of community-building activity in rural Minnesota, this workshop explores the impact of positional power on collaborations between diverse groups in communities where there is a significant power disparity. The workshop explores common barriers to effective collaborations in this type of community and provides insights into how these collaborations grow. To this end, the workshop introduces a Continuum of Collaboration. True collaborations should be about shared goals and objectives, but often times in communities with high levels of power disparity collaborations are about the goals of the lead partner. Identifying how this is a part of White supremacy culture and ways to interrupt these processes and to create more equitable partnerships is a key component of the session.