Diversity
The presence of variety in one place. We often measure it in race, ethnic background, gender, age, class, culture or ability. Diversity may also describe a set of actions to accommodate variety.
Equity
Freedom from systemic bias or favoritism. Parity across differences. Resources, information, service access, opportunity, quality and outcomes that do not vary by race, ethnicity, language, age, gender or other meaningful differences.
Inclusion
Including many different types of people and treating them all fairly and equally.
Culture
Culture is a social system that includes a group’s shared language, customs, beliefs, values and institutions. Culture affects our thoughts and actions, often without us even being aware.
Ethnicity
Describes a group of people who share a distinct culture, religion, language or place of origin. It is a category independent of Race. Therefore, in the U.S., people of the same ethnicity may be members of different races, such as Black Hispanics (such as people from Cuba, Brazil or Dominican Republic).
People of Color
The term used in this plan as shorthand to describe a person who identifies as a member of at least one of the following racial census categories: Black or African American, Asian, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Some other race, and Hispanic. We recognize the problems inherent in using such a broad term. However, we use it only to increase plan readability.
Race
In the U.S., race is a construct that established various categories of people and a hierarchy of their value to society. In that worldview, people have, according to their physical characteristics, innate qualities that define them as different.
These definitions are used by CultureBrokers® in the Diamond Inclusiveness System. They are adapted from multiple sources.