Service-learning activities sometimes place participants outside of their comfort zone. Helping them to work through those uncomfortable feelings will aid in the creation of a more inclusive environment where a service-learning project can thrive. Learning that these “uncomfortable” feelings may be based in their own stereotypes will help students to feel more comfortable and overcome their biases.  As educators look to build inclusive classrooms for all students, they need tools to help participants broaden their comfort zones and become aware of the stereotypes they hold.
 
The passage and checklist below, quoted from The Challenge of Diversity, published by The Constitutional Rights Foundation, provides an excellent guide to use with students to promote a more inclusive environment. Although this guide particularly addresses racism, it can easily be adapted to help students and community partners work through other kinds of stereotypes they may hold, enabling a more productive service-learning environment. 
 
Diversity Checklist: Conflict Resolution: ERACISM
 
Along with groups and governments, individuals can help combat racism in our society. Many sociologists believe that racism, like violence, has “risk factors,” or elements that contribute to racist behavior. Among others, stereotyping, labeling, and a belief in racial, or ethnic superiority are racial risk factors. If you remove these risk factors, racism tends to diminish or disappear from family, school, or community environments.
 
The checklist below features seven simple suggestions that individuals can use to diminish or erase racism.
 
Expand your circle of friends. Look around. Do you tend to hangout with people from your own racial or ethnic group? Look for a racially integrated club or team. If there aren’t any integrated groups at your school, start one.
 
Race is not always the reason. Some conflicts are just “people problems” –a lack of understanding, a breakdown in communication. Take a deep breath and think a minute before you jump to the conclusion that race in the reason for your conflict
 
Act against racism. Take a stand against racism. Banish racist words from your vocabulary. Don’t laugh at racist jokes and don’t just ignore them. Let your friends know how you feel. “I don’t think that joke is funny” is easy to say.
 
Call attention to bias. Do students from one racial or ethnic group seem to get more attention in the classroom? Are they encouraged more to achieve? Do they get other forms of special treatment? This behavior is called “bias.” Share your views with other students and teachers. Do they notice the same biases?
 
Investigate your own attitudes. Even if we don’t realize it, we all have biases and prejudices. It doesn’t mean we are racists. Don’t just ignore your own feelings. Your feelings can be changed if you pay attention to them. Talk to your friends about them in order to see them more clearly.
 
Set a good example. Talk about and treat all people with respect. Be a role model for others
 
Make a difference. Brainstorm ways that you and your friends can erase racism from your school. Choose one brainstorm idea and enlist other people to help you put your idea into practice.
 
Croddy, Marshall, et al. The Challenge of Diversity.  Los Angeles: Constitutional Rights Foundation, 1999.