Many of us have heard about DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) by now. You may have heard it referred to as EDI, DEIA (Accessibility), DEIB (Belonging), or J(Justice)EDI or perhaps as other acronyms. Whether it’s been discussed within our facilities or at a recent chapter meeting, it’s a topic that’s growing in importance and is becoming engrained in our industry. There are many definitions of the concept and framework of DEI as a whole. However, the simple definition of DEI (according to Dictionary.com) is “a conceptual framework that promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, especially in the workplace, including populations who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination because of their background, identity, disability, etc.” While this definition helps to clarify the concept, we first want to understand the meaning of each term and how we can begin to incorporate this framework into our chapters. (Please note there are many varying definitions of each of these terms. These are defined below for the purpose of this newsletter.)
Diversity: the presence of differences; populations that have been and remain underrepresented among practitioners in the field and marginalized in the broader society.
- Take a look at your chapter volunteers. Are there individuals from different populations represented such as age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education level, ability (physical or cognitive), gender, etc.? Embracing diversity brings individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds together, to share their viewpoints and experiences and may generate new ideas that otherwise would not have been possible.
Equity: promoting justice, impartiality and fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by entities or systems.
- Equity within your chapter will ensure all members are given equal opportunities and access to resources. This may mean holding a virtual meeting, so all members are able to attend, eliminating the need to travel and associated costs (gas, tolls, parking, etc.) as well as taking time off work. Or perhaps at your in person meetings, special dietary or accessibility needs are met to ensure all attendees can participate and enjoy the meeting.
Inclusion: an outcome to ensure those that are diverse feel and/or are welcomed. To the degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes and development opportunities within entities and systems.
- Inclusion in chapters means members feel a sense of belonging. Think about this at your next board or committee meeting. Establishing a safe space that encourages and supports participants to share their opinions respectfully and freely, creates a sense of inclusion for all volunteers.