Stevi Lischin and her husband, Robert Smith, founded the Project for Intercultural Development.
Photo by Jill Huber
July 22, 2008
When her mother spent time at a rehabilitation facility recently, Stevi Lischin saw diversity in action.
“My Jewish mother’s roommate was a Catholic nun and their health aide was Muslim,” said Lischin, who lives in Atlantic Highlands. “They learned to like and respect each other. They approached each other with fascination and a sense of excitement. All three women became deeply connected and have remained friends.”
These are lessons not likely to be lost on Lischin, who has made it her life’s work, as an academic and activist, to help professionals from different cultures work in a collaborative fashion while using their cultural differences as assets.
That is the goal of the Project for Intercultural Development, which she founded in 1985 with her husband and colleague, Dr. Robert Smith.
“My mother’s illness has affected me on a deeply spiritual level,” said Lischin, who is PID’s co-executive director. “I was raised in a Jewish home and I feel the influence of my mother’s teachings and wisdom. She taught me to see the best in each person, to appreciate diversity, and to see the differences as assets. It’s like an affirmation of the work I do.”
In June, she and Smith were consultants for the “Golden Rule Project,” which was sponsored by the Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought. Interpretations of the golden rule were explored in art and essays created by young people from Baha’i, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, and Unitarian Universalist backgrounds. The results were displayed at the Middletown Township Library.
In September, Lischin will begin working with social workers and mental health professionals at an eldercare facility in Middletown Township.
“The intention is to help them become more aware of the different kinds of care that their clients may need based on their religious faith, cultural nuances, and different rituals,” Lischin said. “We’ll explore the role of family inclusion in decision-making issues. And we’ll acknowledge the importance of respect and understanding in all these areas.”
Lischin also works with corporate clients, educators, individuals, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. She and Smith usually design a series of workshops that encourage participants to express — and ultimately embrace — the diverse aspects of their lives.
“In a safe, nonconfrontational atmosphere, there are interactions and insights that emerge and bridge the gap between cultural differences,” she said. “Everyone is encouraged to take the time to really listen to each other. At one workshop, an educator said she felt that the experience renewed her belief that knowledge and communication can relieve the strains of ignorance and prejudice. That’s the knowledge she’ll share with her students.”
Before founding PID, Lischin was a tenured professor at the Graduate Center for Human Development at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck.
Lischin is currently an adjunct professor of Lifespan Development and Intercultural Communication at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. She’s also been a visiting professor specializing in the field of intercultural relations at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, for the past 20 years.
Lischin received a bachelor’s degree in education and a graduate degree in human development from Fairleigh Dickinson. In 1977, she earned a doctorate in adult development from the Union Graduate School in Antioch, Ohio.
“Trying to build bridges between cultures is what gives my life meaning,” Lischin said. “My husband, my 28-year-old son, Ean, and my work make my life complete. I try to foster enlightenment and understanding, and I hope this helps to build a better world.”
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