CULTURALLY SENSITIVE INTERVENTIONS AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE ^*

In this chapter, I relay my experiences of marginalization and how I use them as I strive to be culturally sensitive. Specifically, I have a learning disability, have dealt with internalized self-stigma, had forced exposure of my non-religious identity that resulted from my grandmother’s experiences of physical and emotional abuse and subsequent suicide, and encountered overt sexism. These experiences coupled with what I learned throughout high school, college, and graduate school from classes and assigned readings-and from the self-knowledge I gained by being a part of a community of growth and accountability-influence my social justice efforts in research and service. I use what I learned about the inaccurate teaching of history in K-12 education, cisgender female marginalization, cultural psychology, cross-cultural psychology, white privilege, the problematic American Dream, Native American cultural views, family therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), and my own biases and unconscious beliefs to create culturally sensitive interventions, programs, and services; these services are designed to increase the multicultural sensitivity and competence of professionals. Additionally, I use this information as I partner with Dakota Wicoh?a? in community-engaged scholarship and create systemic changes both at the University of Minnesota Morris and in a local county.