How to Raise Awareness of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

Thứ bảy - 27/04/2024 01:10
Promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in your community can be a big task, but you can find ways to make a difference! To call attention to these values, reach out to your local leaders, use social media, and act as a role model for...
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Promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in your community can be a big task, but you can find ways to make a difference! To call attention to these values, reach out to your local leaders, use social media, and act as a role model for your peers. At your school, join or start organizations that can host events and speakers. In the workplace, training workshops and inclusive hiring practices can create more diverse and equitable spaces. By spreading the word about these ideals, you can help create a safe, friendly community for all.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Promoting Your Values Effectively

  1. Step 1 Act as a role model for your peers.
    Sometimes, the most effective thing you can do is model inclusive language and actions for others. Put your values into practice, and help your peers understand what it means to treat others with dignity and respect.[1]
    • Use the language preferred by individual communities. For example, "autistic people" instead of "people with autism" is the preferred language of the Autistic community. However, everyone has their own language preferences and beliefs. If an autistic person wants to be referred to as a “person who has autism,” use this language to refer to them.
    • Respect other people’s chosen pronouns, names, or identities. If someone prefers to be called “he,” “she,” “they,” or something else, respect their wishes instead of trying to correct them.
    • Challenge yourself and your friends to have lunch or start conversations with people of ethnicities, faiths, social groups, and identities other than your own.
  2. Step 3 Focus your effort on specific issues so your message doesn’t get lost.
    Instead of taking on all social issues at once, tackle 1 issue that directly affects your community. Raise awareness of the problem through social media, public events, and 1-on-1 conversations.[3]
    • For example, you might notice that sidewalks in your town are poorly maintained, which poses a hazard for people who may have mobility issues. Contact your city councilor, write to your local newspaper, or reach out to your local public works department to correct the issue.
    • You might run a public fundraiser to donate books or clothing for children in need. You can also ask volunteers to offer free tutoring for these children.
    • In areas with unequal access to healthcare, you could ask local doctors if they would be willing to offer their services for free for people with no health insurance.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Raising Awareness in Your Community

  1. Step 2 Host a town hall where community members can voice their issues.
    Making sure that everyone’s voice is heard is an important part of inclusion. Try asking your local elected representative to host an open town hall for the community. For the greatest impact, choose a specific issue that affects your community, such as lack of healthcare or racial injustice in housing development.[6]
    • Invite community members to sign up for speaking slots at the beginning of the event. Give each person a certain amount of time to make sure that every person has a chance to be heard.
    • Be sure to invite local government figures and policy makers at the event, such as the mayor, town council members, school board members, and chief of police.
    • If your local government will not host an open town hall, hold your own. Book a room in a local library, community center, or school to host the event. Promote it on social media, by going to door to door, and by posting fliers at nearby businesses.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Encouraging Inclusion at Your School

  1. Step 1 Join or start a social justice club.
    See if there’s a multicultural association, LGBTQ support network, volunteer group, or related organization at your school. If there isn’t an organization at your school or university start your own! Talk to a teacher, your school’s administration, or the office of student activities to learn your school's specific procedures for starting a club.[9]
    • Your club could host speaking events and other educational programming, collect donations, and campaign for specific issues related to diversity, equality, and inclusion. For instance, you could invite a local elected official to offer her take on the importance of women in politics.
    EXPERT TIP
    Joseph Meyer

    Joseph Meyer

    Math Teacher
    Joseph Meyer is a High School Math Teacher based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an educator at City Charter High School, where he has been teaching for over 7 years. Joseph is also the founder of Sandbox Math, an online learning community dedicated to helping students succeed in Algebra. His site is set apart by its focus on fostering genuine comprehension through step-by-step understanding (instead of just getting the correct final answer), enabling learners to identify and overcome misunderstandings and confidently take on any test they face. He received his MA in Physics from Case Western Reserve University and his BA in Physics from Baldwin Wallace University.
    Joseph Meyer
    Joseph Meyer
    Math Teacher

    Support social justice practices in your school. Use data to explore social justice issues. Analyze who's enrolling in classes at school by factors like race and gender to identify potential inequalities. Discuss the implications of these findings with others and brainstorm solutions to promote equity.

  2. Step 2 Host events that offer opportunities to engage other cultures.
    Help organize free events for your school community that are both fun and informative. Coordinate with various clubs or organizations to build bridges between interests, activities, and academic subjects. For instance, team up with the language department, LGBTQ center, and writing lab to host a gender neutral writing workshop. Other great event ideas include:[10]
    • Cultural fair: celebrate holidays from different religions, hold a food festival with cuisine around the world, or showcase various forms of dance.
    • Open mic nights: invite students from a wide range of backgrounds to tell stories, sing songs, or recite poetry about their unique experiences.
    • Public lectures: ask scholars, civil rights leaders, and community leaders to talk about how others can help promote this cause.
    • Networking events for marginalized groups: ask business leaders and teachers to meet with students. Students can workshop their resumes or find internships through this network.
  3. Step 5 Create safe spaces on your campus.
    A safe space allows students to discuss their experiences without judgment or criticism. You could create a general safe space for students or make specific spaces for students struggling with their sexuality, sexual harassment, racism, or mental health issues.[11]
    • Get help coordinating safe spaces from your school's diversity and inclusion office, women’s center, counseling office, or from teachers who share your ideals. Work with faculty and staff to find and book a suitable location, develop warm-up exercises or ice breakers, and advertise meetings.
    • You could book a room through your school's administration and invite students facing specific challenges to talk about their experiences. It's helpful to have a teacher or counselor to moderate the discussion.
    • Remind allies that the safe space is a place for others to express their challenges. They may not be looking for advice or sympathy. Ask allies to listen, not to talk.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Promoting an Equitable and Diverse Workplace

  1. Step 2 Encourage inclusive hiring practices.
    Diversity and inclusion begins during the hiring process. Encouraging a more diverse pool of applicants will make your workplace a more inclusive place. Some ways you create an inclusive hiring process include:[13]
    • Write job advertisements with broad qualifications to allow a more diverse set of applicants. Be conscious of how your language might imply gender.
    • Avoid gendered language in your job advertisement. Instead of using “he” or “she,” say “the applicant” or “they.”
    • Advertise your diversity and inclusion policies, including any non-discrimination rules, in your job advertisement. Emphasize that you do not discriminate based on gender, race, religion, ethnicity, or disability.
    • Make sure that the interviewers represent a diverse sample from your workplace. Ask broad, open-ended questions. Avoid questions about the applicant’s personal life, such as their religion, marital or relationship status, or children.
  2. Step 3 Institute policies regarding equal access and discrimination.
    A set of rules regarding discrimination and equality are important to make sure that everyone knows how they are expected to act. Talk to your boss, human resources (HR), or coworkers about instituting new inclusive policies.[14]
    • Establish a no discrimination policy in the workplace. Remind employees that no one can be discriminated against for their race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability. Post this policy in a public place, such as a break room or near the printers.
    • Make sure that all employees know how to report discrimination in the workplace. Employees who violate the policy may require sensitivity training or disciplinary action.
    • If your company provides health insurance, make sure that it includes policies for a wide range of conditions. Inclusive policies are ones that offer birth control, STD testing, and a wide range of medical conditions.
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Warnings

  • Avoid supporting organizations that exclude the people they claim to be helping, such as Autism Speaks. Some groups further exploit marginalized people instead of helping them, so research a charity before you support it.
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