Lessons in Cultural Competency from Mango House

“Parmar explained that cultural competence starts with an individual’s willingness to be uncomfortable in new situations. This could be shopping at a grocery store run by people from another country, taking a new bus route, even considering a move to a different side of town.

“Inevitably when you do that, you're going to feel a little bit uncomfortable, whether it's because you feel less safe or you feel like you stick out,” Parmar shared, “That's the whole point. If you're trying to increase your cultural competence, you're probably not going to feel comfortable in that area. You're going to be suddenly the opposite demographic, the minority.”