Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in Practice

Question 1

Diversity

Answer 1

Diversity is an inclusive concept which encompasses, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, class, gender, age, sexuality, ability, educational attainment, spiritual beliefs, creed, culture, tribal affiliation, nationality, immigration status, political beliefs, and veteran status… achieving diversity and inclusion is an evolutionary process that requires an ongoing renewal of our commitment.

Diversity is the presence of difference within a given setting. The presence of difference in a system aid in greater productivity, problem solving, enriched perspectives, and efficiency.

Question 2

Equity

Answer 2

Equity is different from diversity. Diversity invites others in, but equity modifies practices to support inclusion and flourishing. The distinction between diversity and equity is important: Diversity is largely numbers-driven, making it easier to measure and calibrate a response. Equity, on the other hand, is largely values-driven

Question 3

Environmental Justice

Answer 3

Injustice includes the absence of fair treatment and meaningful involvement. The movement toward environmental justice was started primarily by people of color and grew from a recognition that the poor and people of color are those who most often live in or near America’s most polluted environments.

Question 4

Harassment

Answer 4

According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, harassment is unwelcome behavior. It must be relatively severe or pervasive in nature. Petty slights, annoyances, and isolated incidents (unless extremely serious) will not rise to the level of harassment.

Question 5

Historic Patterns of Inequity

Answer 5

Low-income residents, communities of color, tribal nations, and immigrant communities have disproportionately experienced some of the greatest environmental burdens and related health problems. Planning has been involved in this inequity in the following ways:

• Inappropriate zoning and negligent land use planning
• failure to enforce property zoning or conduct regular inspections
• deed restrictions and other discriminatory housing and lending practices
• the prioritization of business interests over public health
• Development patterns that tend to concentrate pollution and environmental hazards in certain communities
• Groups denied full participation in the mainstream cultural, political, and economic activities.
• Groups and communities that experience discrimination and exclusion because of unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions.

Question 6

Historically Marginalized and Underrepresented Communities

Answer 6

Cultural minorities
ethnic minorities
indigenous communities
low-income individuals
LGBTQ+
People of Color
People with health issues that are unseen
people with disabilities
people with limited English ability
people with various political beliefs
people with uncertain immigration status
prisoners
senior citizens.

Question 7

Inclusion

Answer 7

Inclusion “demonstrates an environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully; are valued for their distinctive skills, experiences and perspectives; have equal access to resources and opportunities; and can contribute fully to the organization’s success.

Question 8

Indigenous Peoples

Answer 8

Are distinct social and cultural groups that share collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources where they live, occupy, or from which they have been displaced

Question 9

White Privilege

Answer 9

White privilege is an institutional (rather than personal) set of benefits granted to those of us who, by race, resemble the people who dominate the powerful positions in our institutions. One of the primary privileges is having greater access to power and resources than people of color do.

Question 10

Social Justice

Answer 10

Social justice requires the examination of both the positive and negative impacts of community improvements on all community members so that all members benefit and no one group or neighborhood is unfairly disadvantaged.

Question 11

Substantial Injury

Answer 11

Substantial injury usually involves monetary harm, including costs or fees paid by consumers as a result of an unfair practice. An act or practice that causes a small amount of harm to a large number of people may be deemed to cause substantial injury. Actual injury is not required in every case. Emotional impact and other more subjective types of harm also will not ordinarily amount to substantial injury although in some circumstances, such as unreasonable debt collection harassment, emotional impacts may amount to or contribute to substantial injury.