At the PSO, VISTAs discuss how to successfully enter the culture of their sponsoring organizations. However, they do not discuss community entry. The cultural composition of their communities varies widely. Sponsors and supervisors can best coach community entry for their members.

There are many different cultures in a community that members need to learn about and respect. Culture extends beyond race; it includes religion, age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Begin your community entry discussion by making members aware of the different cultural groups in your community. Which are most closely linked with the member's service assignment?

Click here to access a worksheet that you can use to identify the cultural groups in your community.

Go on to Cultural Effectiveness