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  • 1.  Community Conversations - 3/24/2025 - Cultural Agility: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Needed

    Posted 03-19-2025 08:03 PM

    Updated 3/24/25 at 4:42 pm PT - Recording now available!

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    We hope to see you on the next Community Conversation on Monday, 3/24/25 at 11am PT for "Cultural Agility: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Needed" with Dr. Azalia Boyd.

    In animal welfare, we often focus on technical skills and best practices, but what if one of the most powerful tools for impact isn't something you can learn from a textbook? Cultural agility is a superpower that allows us to navigate diverse communities, build trust, and make meaningful change in the lives of both animals and people.

    In this interactive session, Dr. Azalia Boyd, a veterinarian, cultural intelligence consultant, and host of the Critters and Cultures podcast, will take you on a journey through real-world stories that reveal how cultural agility (or the lack of it) shapes the outcomes of sheltering, rescue, and veterinary outreach. 

    We'll explore:

    - What cultural agility actually means and why it's essential in today's animal welfare landscape.

    - The subtle ways cultural misunderstandings impact adoptions, community engagement, and veterinary care.

    - How to develop this superpower to create stronger connections, better outcomes, and a more inclusive future for animal welfare.

    Expect a thought-provoking and engaging conversation that will leave you rethinking how you approach your work, and maybe even how you see the world.


    Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConvoRegistration2024


    Make sure you are using the latest version of Zoom when you join us!

    If you are unable to make it live on Monday, this thread will be updated with the recording and resources so you can watch and share whenever you'd like.  After you watch the recording on-demand or attend the call live, be sure to complete this new March 2025 entry form to enter to win up to a $5,000 grant: https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-mar25-giveaway.htm 


    #AccesstoCare
    #CommunityPartnerships*
    #Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice

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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 3/24/2025 - Cultural Agility: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Needed

    Posted 03-24-2025 11:31 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

    "Is asking someone how their pet got their name good for all cultures?" - @Mary Flores



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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 3/24/2025 - Cultural Agility: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Needed

    Posted 03-28-2025 11:36 AM

    First, thank you for joining the conversation! And second, great question!

    Asking someone how their pet got their name can be a great way to connect, but it's not always meaningful or appropriate across all cultures.  The appropriateness of any question depends on cultural values, privacy norms, communication styles, etc.  So when you have a cultural intelligent lens, you learn to observe, listen, adapt (i.e., if a person lights up talking about their pet or shares stories freely, it may be a great question; if they are more reserved, maybe not.  Ultimately, cultural agility reminds us that there's no universal "right" question or anything that goes for "all" cultures.  But more, thoughtful ways to connect and adapt.  Would love to engage more with you or your organization if this interest you.  

    Cheers, 

    ~Azalia 



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    Azalia Boyd
    CEO, Veterinarian
    Boyd Veterinary Services and Consulting, LLC
    GA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 3/24/2025 - Cultural Agility: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Needed

    Posted 03-28-2025 11:38 AM

    First, thank you for joining the conversation! And second, great question!

    Asking someone how their pet got their name can be a great way to connect, but it's not always meaningful or appropriate across all cultures.  The appropriateness of any question depends on cultural values, privacy norms, communication styles, etc.  So when you have a cultural intelligent lens, you learn to observe, listen, adapt (i.e., if a person lights up talking about their pet or shares stories freely, it may be a great question; if they are more reserved, maybe not.  Ultimately, cultural agility reminds us that there's no universal "right" question or anything that goes for "all" cultures.  But more, thoughtful ways to connect and adapt.  Would love to engage more with you or your organization if this interest you.  

    Cheers, 

    ~Azalia 



    ------------------------------
    Azalia Boyd
    CEO, Veterinarian
    Boyd Veterinary Services and Consulting, LLC
    GA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Community Conversations - 3/24/2025 - Cultural Agility: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Needed

    Posted 03-24-2025 11:31 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

    "Is it ok to ask more for understanding if we don't understand their why? I work with multicultural staff often get an answer and the response I get to my curiosity is appreciation for taking time to learn their cultures." - @Wendy Montanez-Ortiz



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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 6.  RE: Community Conversations - 3/24/2025 - Cultural Agility: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Needed

    Posted 03-28-2025 11:43 AM

    Yes! I love this!  It's okay to ask for more understanding. CQ curiosity helps buidl trust and connection.  The key is in how you ask.  Lead with respect and openness, not judgment.  If you're already judging and you're asking to prove why they are wrong, it not helpful and most people can pick up on that!  Also, if they have shared something, you should acknowledge their perspective, "Thank you for sharing that.  I would love to understand more if you're open to it."  Be mindful that not everyone may feel comfortable explaining their culture and that's okay too, as there are other ways to learn.  

    But overall, when done with care, curiosity is often received as respect, just like what you've experienced! So cheers to you! 

    Thank you for this question! 

    ~Azalia 



    ------------------------------
    Azalia Boyd
    CEO, Veterinarian
    Boyd Veterinary Services and Consulting, LLC
    GA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Community Conversations - 3/24/2025 - Cultural Agility: The Superpower You Didn't Know You Needed

    Posted 03-24-2025 11:55 PM
      |   view attached

    Thanks to the 164+ people and paws who joined us on today's Community Conversations call! The recording is now available to watch on-demand. Below you'll find a recap of today's call and the resources shared. 

    Call Recap

    Welcome from hosts

      • @Raye Taylor, CEO/CMO, Taylor Veterinary Services; Vice President, Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine
      • @Miguel Ruelas, Director, Community Animal Care, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE)

    • Question of the Day: What is something core to your cultural beliefs that might not be widely known/understood or that you would like others to know?
      • "Compassion fatigue" -  Rosalie Hathcock
      • "Not eating meat is core to my personal culture, but even in 2025 I end up explaining it all the time." - Johanna Humbert
      • "In India we respect our teachers.." - Geraldine D'Silva
      • "How much Latine folks love their pets and how we treat them like family...so much so, we consider them the new generation of kids/grandkids in our families :)" - Nadia Oseguera
      • "It's ok to ask for help, and try to be a source of help when you can" - Rebecca Stuntebeck
      • "Exactly Miguel, large male dogs are protectors of our properties so neutering them would take away from their jobs.." - Christina Avila
      • "I grew up Pennsylvania Dutch and getting together with family was core. Even to the point with folks have few outside friends." - Roxane Fritz
      • "Persians are currently celebrating our New Year (Nowruz which literally translates to New Day) and we celebrate based off of the Spring Equinox. We have a heavy emphasis on good deeds and rejuvenation for the new year." - Sheila Kouhkan
      • "It's considered "macho" in my family to like cats!"- Lorraine Whetstone 
      • "Nowruz Mubarak!" - Michelle Pease
      • "Yes, Nowruz Mubarak! Happy Spring Equinox!." - Geraldine D'Silva

    • National Updates
      • This Thursday at 12n Pacific: Behavior Plans to Reduce Hyperarousal in Shelter Dogs: The Impact of Setup and Choice (webcast)
        Guest speaker: Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) is an animal trainer and ecologist who founded Sits & Wiggles Dog Training in New York City in 2009. He specializes in treating complex canine behavior problems and consults with animal shelters nationwide. Register today! https://maddies.fund/MonthlyBehaviorRegistration
      • My Dog is My Home virtual conference happening this month! March 25-27th - all online and great speaker line up. Dr. Kwane Stewart and Lori Weise of Downtown Dog Rescue are keynote speakers.
        Registration here https://www.mydogismyhome.org/2025-conference
        Discount Code: MaddiesForum ((the price with the discount is $75 discounted from $140)
      • Community Cats Podcast has our Annual Behavior Day coming up on April 12th. You can get more info here - https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/2025-online-behavior-day/
      • Maddie's Fund Monthly Giveaways!  Enter here for a chance to win CA$H: 
        Open to all who are watching live or on-demand! Be sure to enter each week you attend!
         https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-mar25-giveaway.htm
      • Maddie's Pet Forum Monthly Giveaway: Maddie's Fund® is giving away a $3,000 grant each month to one lucky Maddie's® Pet Forum member. You'll automatically be entered to win each month when you start a new discussion, reply to a new post. More info:  https://maddies.fund/mpfmonthlygiveaway

      • In celebration of Maddie's Fund 30th anniversary, Maddie's Fund and Cuddly have partnered to provide $1,000 in prizes monthly, for engaging on a special anniversary-related post on Maddie's Pet Forum. 

        You'll also be entered to win the usual $3,000 monthly grant giveaway by participating. We're so excited to celebrate Maddie's Fund 30th anniversary with Cuddly and all of you. You can find each month's discussion thread when they're available here: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/30yearsgiveaway

        • Key Takeaways:
          • What cultural agility actually means and why it's essential in today's animal welfare landscape.
          • The subtle ways cultural misunderstandings impact adoptions, community engagement, and veterinary care.

          • How to develop this superpower to create stronger connections, better outcomes, and a more inclusive future for animal welfare.

    • Highlights from the Chat
      • "I love Critters and Cultures! Such a great show!" - Kristen Petrie
      • "What is your job (super power)?" - Dr. Azalia Boyd
      • "What is a problem you are working to solve?" - Dr. Azalia Boyd
      • "Donations dwindling" - Lorraine Whetstone
      • "I am a grant writer, working to find funding for the vital programs we offer our community like our Pet Resource Center" - Kris Holland
      • "Unnecessary euthanasia of treatable and healthy animals. Prevent cruelty to animals.." - Lisa Pearce
      • "Help our community become better stewards.." - Tracey Tsoumbos
      • "Problem: how to best educate and fight the root cause of LA's dog overpopulation problem while also putting a band aid over the real consequences!" - Ethan McMorran
      • "Getting our resources out to advocates who can use them." - Jenna Riedi
      • "Shortening shelter stay" - Steve Rohrer
      • "Advocating for better laws" - Marissa Veal
      • "Helping folks get vet care" - Kristin Moro
      • "Preventing healthy, adoptable cats from being euthanized" - Renee Shamloo
      • "Problem working to solve: housing unhoused people (and their pets!)" - Leah Wright
      • "Education on breed and medical support " - Allie Coronis
      • "Socializing kittens and keeping them healthy" - Yvonne Moyer
      • "Animal control officer/supervisor trying to keep pets home" - Christina Avila
      • "How much easier would our work be if we knew how to connect with people who need us the most?" - Dr. Azalia Boyd
      • "100%!!!!!!!!!" - Katie Weaver
      • "100%"- Kate Sawyer
      • "1000%" - Shannon McDonnell 
      • "Wow... LOTS!" - Mary Flores
      • "A whole lot easier" - Terry Ruffin
      • "Shelters have to be judgement-free zones welcoming community members in as volunteers, sponsors, fosters, even laundry help." - Lisa Pearce
      • " Even departments within a single shelter could have a different culture" - Kristin Moro
      • "Not just shelters...... rescue teams as well!" - Katie Weaver
      • "Yes Lisa!!! community!!" - Raye Taylor
      • "I think that should go with Animal Control Officers as well" - Terry Ruffin
      • "Travel and having a diverse set of friends and relatives helps remind you of cultural agility needed. I married a Greek man and visiting a country where personal space was very different than mine." - Tracey Tsoumbos
      • "Great reminder for each of us! Personal Challenge: Switch from Judgement to Curiosity" - Raye Taylor
      • "Animals also have cultures! I have met cats in Japan, Turkey, Puerto Rico and Mainland USA. They learn from humans to communicate too. :)" - Wendy Montanez-Ortiz
      • "I like the idea of the iceberg. The observable info of what we see about how people "work" (their culture) is easy. It's the covert (hidden behaviors - those in the unseen apart of the iceberg) are the behaviors that we often clash with and need to know about." - Stefanie Holzman
      • "I think we have a problem with cultural conversations because I know that as an educator, we often ask students to look me in the eye. But for many cultures, that is disrespectful. We must think about how people are responding to OUR culture and how we can increase our awareness of their culture. " - Stefanie Holzman
      • "Humane Society of the USA is now Humane World for Animals - that says something to me about the search for cultural sharing." - Brenda Trainor
      • "Transactional vs Transformational analysis is CRITICAL!!" - Brenda Trainor
      • "A GREAT, insightful presentation…..thank Maddies, thanks Azalia Boyd!" - Jean Harman
      • "Transactional is authoritarian, militaristic top-down power structure.  Transformational is information sharing, and power is directed in driving forward the will of the group." - Brenda Trainor
      • "Excellent presentation. Great speaker!!!" - Michelle Russillo
      • "Excellent presentation! Thank you so much!!" - Roxane Fritz
      • "The mare of a herd is transformational; the stud is transactional." - Brenda Trainor
      • "Thank you very much, this was amazing!" - Ethan Mcmorran
      • "Thank You!  Excellent Presentation!" - Debra DeVries
      • "Thank you, Dr. Boyd!!" - Amanda Lamberti
      • "Thank you. Wonderful presentation." - Tracey Tsoumbos



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    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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