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Cultural competency: the key to hiring diverse staff.

Article Excerpt
The complaint about the counselors came on an otherwise positive parent evaluation: "I have concerns with camp staff that have multiple piercings, dreadlocks, unusual hair cuts or colors, and tattoos. I understand the desire to express one's individuality but believe a person can accomplish that without mutilating their body. These girls are supposed to be mentors to the younger girls, and I believe that type of 'expression' is inappropriate, especially around the younger girls. My younger daughter was 'all eyes' when we dropped off the older one, and she was a bit spooked. She said she doesn't think she would ever want to go to Flying 'G' because the counselors looked 'scary.' (The Tomahawk counselors are 'much nicer!') I would hope that Council would encourage the older girls on staff to portray a more responsible and professional image rather than an image of rebellion or social outcast."

As the Girl Scouts' Flying 'G' Ranch camp director, I knew exactly to whom the parent was referring: Pink, Tank, and even myself, Banana. But that mother could have been referring to a fair majority of American camp staff.

Pink took her camp name after her Spanish name, Rosa, which she used while volunteering at a medical clinic in Ecuador. To match her name, she had dyed her dreadlocks bright pink. A single small spike pierced her lower lip. On her left bicep was a carefully detailed tattoo of a treble clef line of music. It could have been a Bach concerto (she played several musical instruments), but to those in the know, it was from a song by her favorite band--Metallica. She was only one of three on staff that had been a Girl Scout all through high school (which takes an independent thinker these days). Naturally, Pink felt most at home when she was instructing arts and crafts.

Tank received her nickname in high school. She played center snare in the school's marching band. The drum line frequently took on the football team in flag pick-up games after practice. Her first year on staff, she had shaved her head into a Mohawk, partly to see what my reaction would be. "Oh, you changed your hair," was all I said, much to her disappointment. It was one of many surprises for her, one of which was getting hired in the first place. Tank had listed her volunteer work as a mentor for GLBTQ youth at Rainbow Alley on her application. In addition to that asset, she had a brilliance about her when she explained how she facilitated games with kids. She had a knack for learning archery and challenge course, as well as crazy announcements to which the campers actually listened. By the second year, she was promoted to program director.

On opening day, parents and campers would first meet either Pink or Tank on the road into camp. They were our best greeters--knowledgeable about camp procedures, able to reassure parents, and a sign to returning campers that everything was well at Flying 'G'...

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