DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS
To ensure that we all share a common understanding of the fundamental principles behind this work, we will continue to revisit and update these definitions as our process of learning, reflection, and action evolves.
Inclusion
Utilizing systems, power, and other actions to actively seek out and include diverse voices and viewpoints in our work.
Diversity
Having diverse perspectives, identities, and abilities present, safe, and welcomed in one place. It is essential to our community that diversity be broadly defined as identities including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender, ability, faith/belief tradition, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, socio-economic background, and nationality.
Equity
The intentional work of analyzing, identifying, and removing artificial barriers to successful outcomes—barriers rooted in historical and contemporary policy, practice, norms, and values—that affect groups of people based on their identities.
Accessibility
Giving equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience. Accessibility encompasses the broader meanings of compliance and refers to how organizations make space for the characteristics that each person brings.
BIPOC
Stands for "Black, Indigenous, People of Color" and is meant to signify all people of color in the work for liberation while intentionally acknowledging that not all people of color experience injustice in the same ways.
Anti-racism
A commitment to identifying and changing the systemic accumulation of disadvantages for one group or groups to the advantage of another group or groups, based on persisting racist beliefs, with a sustained focus on racism that impacts BIPOC individuals.
Gender identity
An individual's innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither—which can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth, and includes non-binary, transgender, genderqueer, or cisgender identities.
Gender expression
External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined characteristics.