The Los Angeles Diversity Project: The Promotion of Cultural and Linguistic Competence via a University Community Learning Project

Abstract

Purpose Community learning projects provide opportunities for students to become actively engaged in an educational process that extends beyond the classroom. The Los Angeles Diversity Project stems from a campus-based service learning program for undergraduate students enrolled in the Communication Disorders Program at California State University, Los Angeles. Although developed to specifically explore the cultural–linguistic diversity encountered in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, this project can be generalized to other large or small cities and urban or rural communities. Conclusions As a class assignment embedded in a requisite course on cultural and linguistic diversity and communication disorders, students learn how to develop an understanding of cultural competency skills applicable to our field. Furthermore, students find out how to integrate basic tenets of ethnographic research while exploring surrounding neighborhoods and local community resources. Additionally, implications aligned with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's cultural and linguistic competency requirements are addressed.