Lessons in embracing diversity

Issue 106: We describe a study we conducted with International House, including take-home lessons about how they embrace diversity and avoid intolerance

As the U.S. population becomes increasingly racially and ethnically diverse and the world increasingly interconnected, it is critical to understand how to foster healthy interactions between people from different backgrounds. Understanding how to embrace diversity while avoiding conflict, intolerance, and xenophobia, is one of the fundamental challenges of our time.

Last year, we met with representatives from International House (also known as I-House) who may have uncovered some of the secret ingredients to help people embrace diversity. I-House is a non-profit residence in New York City that houses 700 graduate students and young professionals from nearly 100 countries around the world. We conducted a large study of their alumni and observed several themes that will be useful to teams, organizations, and communities that want to embrace genuine diversity.

I-House alumni have long reported that living amidst such a diverse group of people is a life-changing experience that they carry i…