Fish Out of Water
Mentoring, Managing, and Self-Monitoring People Who Don't Fit In
Sometimes people just don't fit in. They may not be a member of the dominant group; they may not have figured out the norms of the dominant culture, or members of the dominant culture may not realize that the organization's culture is marginalizing. As advocates for social justice it is important to notice and teach the cultural codes – the house rules – that contribute to success in a particular environment, and to dismantle the codes within those environments that target, marginalize or exclude. This book is helpful for
- Managers who are working to create and sustain a healthy organization culture
- Mentors of children who are targeted by their peers or other adults
- People who want to make a difference in their environment and have not yet figured out the rules for doing that
What People are Saying
“Fish Out of Water is a great resource for navigating ponds that suffocate the marginalized with dominant norms and values. Linking Cultural Proficiency to decoding an environment provides more tools for code switching, code sharing, and conversations about making students and families feel welcomed, included, and safe in our schools.”
—Angela Ward, Office of Cultural Proficiency & Inclusion
Austin Independent Schools, TX
“This book made me think. It is a courageous attempt at the difficult subject of who ‘doesn't fit’ into the spaces and places we inhabit—and why. But the most valuable part of this book is that it describes what we can do about making our schools, workplaces, and communities more inclusive, and ultimately more effective.”
—Nicki King, Reducing Mental Health Disparities Project
University of California, Davis
“Fish Out of Water is a great resource for navigating ponds that suffocate the marginalized with dominant norms and values. Linking Cultural Proficiency to decoding an environment provides more tools for code switching, code sharing. and conversations about making students and families feel welcomed, included, and safe in our schools.”
“Fish Out of Water made me think. It is a courageous attempt at the difficult subject of who ‘doesn't fit’ into the spaces and places we inhabit—and why. But the most valuable part of this book is that it describes what we can do about making our schools, workplaces, and communities more inclusive, and ultimately more effective.”
"Every educator and every employer works with those who just don’t fit in. This work provides strategies to help the “Fish out of Water” swim more successfully in your workplace or school environment."
"Fish Out of Water is the filling of a void on the discussion about diversity valuing and appreciation. This books could be another link in the growth for many people in our country - both in dominant and minority cultures, personal and professional."
"I admire Nuri-Robins & Bundy for writing about a difficult topic without placing blame on one party or another for the problem. The solution-based approach gets past the anger and frustration of why the problem exists in the first place and moves the reader toward actions that can alleviate the problem."
"Nuri-Robins & Bundy offer a unique approach to the topic of cultural diversity, pairing storytelling with helpful tools."
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