VISION

To facilitate respect for the dignity of all citizens of Dauphin County through education, cross-cultural communication and acknowledgment of differences, in order to reduce any potential divisiveness spawned by disparities and increase the level of cultural competence in Dauphin County.

MISSION

To create an educational forum that promotes and facilitates the interchange of ideas, best practices, and solutions, creates sensitivity, and enhances ongoing, meaningful cross-cultural communication.

Dauphin County Diversity Forums Feedback

The Dauphin County Commissioners, the Human Services Director's Office and the Diversity Network Advisory Panel are pleased to sponsor the Diversity Network Forum initiative. This Diversity Roundtable monthly breakfast allows attendees to improve their knowledge, have a better understanding of diversity and build a network, both in the profit and non-for-profit sectors, to recognize the importance of cross-system communication and cultural competence in serving and interacting with others in our community.

The Diversity Network Forum is a monthly breakfast and discussion/presentation on issues specific to diversity; this 75-minute meeting has been created after reaching a consensus with different business and community organizations to create diversity awareness, social sensitivity, and a better understanding of strategies to deal with differences in the Capital Region while addressing equity and disparities in cross-cultural communication. The format is as follows: 20 minutes of networking and introductions; 20 minutes from the guest speaker; and 35 minutes of public participation and the formulation of action plans.

Since the Capital Region has experienced a change in population over the last 10 years, it is clear that an interchange of ideas, best practices, and solutions may help to improve sensibility and enhance ongoing and more meaningful cross-cultural communication. These forums are held at the Dauphin County Case Management Unit, located at 1100 S. Cameron Street, in Harrisburg from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Meetings are held at the same location and time on the last Thursday of every month.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Hector R. Ortiz, Diversity Network Forum facilitator, at 717-780-6499 or hortiz@dauphinc.org. Diversity Network Forums are free of charge; however, a reservation is needed. To RSVP, please contact Deb Rowe at 780-6288 or drowe@dauphinc.org.

Sponsored by Dauphin County Commissioners Jeff Haste, Dominic DiFrancesco II and George Hartwick III, and the Dauphin County Human Services Office