Embracing Equity: The Path to an Equitable Future

In recent years, the conversation surrounding equity has taken centre stage, with individuals and organizations alike seeking to understand and address the systemic inequalities that exist in our society. From the workplace to the criminal justice system, it is clear that unequal treatment and access to opportunities is a pervasive issue that affects us all.

But what does it mean to truly embrace equity? And what can we do to create a more just and fair society?

At its core, equity means creating a level playing field where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or identity. It involves recognizing and addressing the structural barriers and biases that prevent certain groups from accessing the same opportunities and resources as others.

Embracing equity requires a shift in thinking and a commitment to taking concrete actions. This can include:

• Educating ourselves and others about the impact of systemic inequalities and the role we can play in addressing them.
• Challenging our own biases and preconceived notions, and working to create a more inclusive and respectful environment.
• Supporting policies and initiatives that promote equity, such as diversity and inclusion training, wage transparency, and fair hiring practices.
• Being an ally and advocate for marginalized communities, and using our privilege and influence to amplify their voices and advocate for change.

The path towards equity is not an easy one, and it requires ongoing effort and commitment from all of us. But the benefits of a more just and fair society are immeasurable, and the impact we can have on the lives of those around us is profound.

Let us all embrace equity, and work together to create a brighter future for us all.

At Thrive with Mentoring, we want to invite you to share with us the ONE STEP that you took to embrace equity at the workplace and at home. We will use your answers to help raise awareness on small and big steps everyone can take in their lives.

Here's how you can participate:

Step 1: Think about your one step. Dig deeper. We want to know your situation, action and result.

Step 2: Now that you know what you want to share, fill up this form to get started.

Resources for your Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Efforts

1. Ways to fight bias by Lean IN https://www.internationalwomensday.com/LeanIn
2. Harvard Implicit Association Test—This test is included in the article above, but it’s worth highlighting for itself. We cannot honestly approach this work without first grappling with any biases we ourselves may hold. This simple test is meant to help individuals recognize their own implicit bias.
3. Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matter for Nonprofits—This goes through not only the “how” of implementing a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plan, but also the “why” (whether your organization is a nonprofit or not). It provides several tools for embedding EDI into work at all levels of an organization.
4. Racial Equity Resource Guide Glossary—In order to facilitate communication and avoid misunderstandings around sensitive issues, it’s important that everyone is using the same language. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has pulled together a glossary to help you and your team get on the same page.
5. What’s the Difference Between Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity?— Though this General Assembly blog post is geared toward tech companies, its content applies to everyone. In it you’ll find a good breakdown of the differences between diversity, inclusion, and equity and how they’re related. There are also a few basic exercises that may be helpful for individuals to do on their own or with colleagues to further clarify the definition of each.