Inclusive Strategies for Holiday Displays: The College at Brockport

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Inclusive Strategies for Holiday Displays

Always respect an individual’s decision not to participate in holiday festivities
Agree on a process for student faculty and staff input into department holiday decorating plans
When planning holiday celebrations, groups should strive for consensus, and seek decisions that everyone can live with
Invite students, faculty and staff to participate and provide information and items that reflect personal traditions and beliefs they wish to display
Encourage students and employees to share their celebrations through stories, decorations, and foods that they can bring to their department
Explain holidays & symbols so others learn what the holiday means
Display symbols that visually represent holidays of all religions in combination with secular decorations of the season
Identify appropriate holiday salutations that can be used when speaking to others and when writing
Learn about other celebrations, share your learning with others, and use it as a chance to expand the conversation at holiday gatherings
Take advantage of the opportunity to share and learn about the different cultural and religious traditions of the various members of our College community
Decorations should be respectful and sensitive toward the diversity of our College community
Decorations and food should be general, and non-specific to any religion
Identify a period of time before and after holidays for decorations to be put up and taken down
Designate a common area to share various holidays/cultures
Provide appropriate size bulletin boards or other display areas that can accommodate displays from multiple cultures
Allow for individual displays in personal work space where appropriate, but be mindful that others may have access to such space
Individuals or departments may choose to focus celebrations on neutral, seasonal themes
Mark your calendar and your address book to include cultural and religious traditions other than your own
Post holiday greetings on your webpage and intranet for many religious holidays
Being respectful of special dates for cultural and holiday celebrations, and plan events and meetings around various cultural and holiday celebrations
Display a multi-cultural calendar to help all employees stay aware of important cultural events for the rest of the year
Be flexible with the needs of all students and employees
Be respectful of differences, take interest in other people's traditions and make them feel welcome
The goal or intent of holiday celebration should be to enhance relationships and work/life balance, engage in diversity awareness, inclusivity, and support fun at work