Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
More than Buzzwords in Community Associations B
y now you’ve likely heard the term DEI. It stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
While DEI may appear to be something of a pop culture acronym, it defines an entire area of business and community development that remains largely unrecognized. As community association industry leaders, we have a huge opportunity to engage in education and dialogue that broadens our perspectives and highlights the needs of the communities that we serve. Those three words: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are not buzzwords to adopt, but rather approaches on how to adapt and engage with those around us.
We tend to lump each of these words into a silo, assuming that if we’re diverse in our recruiting efforts, we’re also being inclusive. Recognizing that each item within DEI efforts are separate topics with differing agendas can help pave the way to a higher understanding of our local, regional, and global needs surrounding our changing workplaces and communities.
DIVERSITY
It’s important because we’re all different and every individual brings varying experiences, beliefs, and perspectives. The ways in which our lives are enriched from variety, that is diversity at work.
Diversity is more expansive than ensuring there is a range of culture or color within a group. Engaging with diverse groups challenges our way of thinking and provides us with differing backgrounds and new perspectives. Diversity is smart business practice. When a group is diverse, it opens opportunity for innovation, collaboration, and growth. Diversity is discovery.
10 Community Associations Journal | November–December 2021 INCLUSION
An intentional act of engaging diverse groups or communities. Opening conversations, creating room for all in the decision-making process, and fostering allyship are all pieces to inclusion. The sensation of belonging and being understood, that is inclusion at work.
Inclusion is intentional. It only begins with diversity, there must be active and ongoing engagement of each individual within a group. Inclusion is communicating with respect and empathy. Everyone wants to feel heard and experience a sense of belonging, and by inviting that type
EQUITY
Though diversity opens the door to acceptance and a balanced group, equity is the device by which resources and opportunities are allocated to ensure each individual has access to a particular result. Recognizing and redistributing unbalanced power systems, that is equity at work.
Equity is acknowledging inconsistencies within a group and then ensuring there is impartial opportunity for every individual.
Equity is not exactly about an equal outcome. Rather, it’s acknowledging inconsistencies within a group and then ensuring there is impartial opportunity for every individual. Equity is the bridge between diversity and inclusion. Without the work to find and resolve unjust practices, a diverse group will not be able to flourish. Equity is beneficial to an entire group. Collaboration is high and conflict is reduced when fair access and opportunities are established. Equity is reflection.
— By Jackki Vo, CMCA, AMS —
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