Inclusion and Diversity

Inclusion and Diversity: Let’s Talk About It!

Being inclusive and celebrating our differences is so important. We should create safe spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, respected, and heard. Creating these spaces helps people feel empowered, promotes their well-being, cultivates compassion, and gives people room to grow.

What is inclusivity?

Inclusivity involves making people feel welcome, valued, supported, and respected. For example, pretend you’re planning a birthday party for a classmate. If you plan on inviting everyone from your class, you’re being inclusive. If you were to plan the party and decide not to ask certain classmates based on differences such as their race, gender, or sexuality, that would be considered discriminatory and not inclusive.

Not being inclusive can look different depending on the situation you’re experiencing. It could be a group of your friends purposely leaving out another friend because they’re different or ignoring someone’s perspective when they describe a situation they’re experiencing. For example, imagine you’re assigned a group project with a few classmates. While you and your classmates are working on your project, you notice a few of your peers dominating the conversation, but when you try to jump in and share an idea, they either ignore your suggestion or shut you down. By doing so, your classmates aren’t creating a welcoming place where you feel valued and respected enough to share your thoughts. Their behavior is the opposite of what inclusivity looks like.

Inclusivity celebrates our differences, recognizing that all of us are unique with individual experiences, thoughts, and perspectives. Whether it involves parts of your identity, hobbies, or interests, you deserve to feel like you belong just as much as anyone else. Inclusivity consists of standing up for others when they’re experiencing an environment that doesn’t provide a safe space for everyone to feel like they belong. If you see or hear about someone being mistreated and feel safe speaking up and reaching out, you should do so. Everyone deserves an inclusive space.

What is Diversity?

Diversity makes us who we are. It’s what makes us different from one another while bringing us together. Diversity involves what we look like on the outside and who we are on the inside. Inclusivity and diversity recognize, embrace, and celebrate our differences in background, values, perspectives, experiences, and identities. We can learn from each other through diversity and create a more inclusive space for everyone.

Tips for Creating Safe Spaces for Everyone:

• Be willing to listen actively: If someone comes to you to share what they’ve experienced or their perspective, you should try your best to hear them without judgment. Focus on what they’re saying without interrupting or shutting down their experiences. Being an active listener means being present and giving your full attention. Active listening allows you to learn and grow from gaining insight into new perspectives.
• Be Kind: Treat people with kindness regardless of their differences. Try to leave room for everyone to share their perspectives during conversations. Remember, it’s important for everyone to feel welcome, valued, and respected in all spaces.
• Create more inclusive activities for you and your friends: Try to organize events where you and your friends can embrace and celebrate your differences. You could start a cultural awareness club where you and your peers meet to discuss differences in traditions, cultures, and identities. You could also start a book club where you and other members read books written by authors from different backgrounds involving topics like gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity.
• Speak up: If you feel safe, don’t be afraid to speak up when you see or hear about someone being bullied because of their differences.
• Reach out for support when you need it: If you have any questions or need help creating inclusive and diverse spaces for you and your peers, don’t be afraid to reach out to the adults in your life for help!

Resources:

• Active Listening: https://www.mindtools.com/az4wxv7/active-listening
• 7 Ways to Become More Inclusive in Your Everyday Life: https://fairforceconsulting.medium.com/7-ways-to-be-more-inclusive-in-your-everyday-life-9af5ee018372
• How to Develop a More Inclusive Perspective: https://www.aauw.org/resources/career/boost-your-career/how-to-develop-a-more-inclusive-perspective/

About the Author:
Kat works in healthcare and advocacy. As a former youth with lived experience, one of her biggest goals is to uplift youth voices within the child welfare system and influence policy to reflect better outcomes for youth in care. Her passions surround everything related to the art of storytelling.

 

Inclusion and Diversity: Respect Me

Learning about diversity, inclusion, and how it fits into our lives takes a lifetime. Years ago, I would have told you that I hate spicy foods and would rather eat brussel sprouts (my least favorite food). Today, spicy foods are my absolute favorite, and I can’t see myself going without them again! Thanks to being educated about diversity and inclusion, I have opened my mind further than ever before and found a love for different foods, music, designs, and ways of life.

To be respectful of all people, we should try to have our actions reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). You will see workplaces include DEI in their company goals to show respect to others too. As a foster teen growing up in upstate New York, meeting others from different parts of the world or even the US was hard. When I took a job working at the Six Flags Great Escape Park in Lake George, I was unprepared for the expansion my mind would have when it came to being exposed to different cultures, identities, and communities. However, just because I was more welcoming and interested in meeting people with different cultures and backgrounds, it didn’t mean that everyone else was. Working at an amusement park, you’re working with hundreds of other people, and you’re bound to run into some closed-minded people who will disrespect others because they are from a different culture. From then on, I have learned some ways to teach others how to practice being respectful toward other cultures, communities, and identities.

• Take the time to understand. People tend to view the word “Respect” differently. Take time to understand what respect means for different people and cultures. Being curious, asking questions, researching, and talking to mentors or teachers are great ways to understand better how people practice and demonstrate respect. In the process, you might learn what respect means to you.
• If you see a bully, don’t be a bully. There may be situations where you witness somebody bullying another person because of their culture. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t participate in disrespect or stereotypes, and be a helpful bystander by supporting the person being bullied.  Report the bullying, or work with peers to prevent bullying from occurring. Learn more about how to avoid being a passive bystander to disrespectful behavior. 
• Be mindful of how you communicate. It is essential to respect other communities by being careful of how you communicate. Different cultures have different ways of communicating. Ensure you use appropriate language and be clear in what you are trying to say. If you are unsure of how to communicate with someone, ask.
• Be engaged with local customs. Participating in local cultural events is a great way to learn about different cultures and support diversity in your community. Participate in festivals, try different culturally specific foods, and be open to practicing peers' and friends' cultural norms and traditions when you are in their space. Find local events near you. 

Being diverse is important because it will make you more inclusive of others. While being inclusive of others is a way to show that you respect them. Now that you have learned some ways to be respectful toward others who are different, you can expand your mind and choose to be mindful and kind! No one likes a bully, and you can help change how diverse and inclusive your community is by practicing these methods daily.

About the Author:
Alex was in foster care for seven years and, when she aged out, felt confident about being on her own because her caseworker helped prepare her.