Central Rivers AEA strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcomed and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Continuing work done by the Equity Committee, in partnership with the Leadership Academy, and through the guidance of Gina Weekley, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, we will implement DEI training and provide resources to create awareness, educate and reinforce policies that support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
We collected staff feedback through a series of focus groups, as well as gathered the perspectives and input of all stakeholders through anonymous surveys. As a result of what was released from the Equity Audit, the “APA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Inclusive Language Guide” is an optional tool available to staff to enhance learning and awareness of DEI terms and concepts.
Did you know… terms such as “tribe” and “spirit animal” should be avoided in conversations? According to the “APA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Inclusive Language Guide”:
- Outside of being used to describe cultural groups, the word “tribe” was historically used in a dehumanizing way to equate Indigenous people with being “savage” or “primitive”; modern misuse could be interpreted as a microaggression in conversations.
- Suggested alternatives: friends, group, pals or team
- In some cultural and spiritual traditions, spirit animals refer to an animal spirit that helps guide and/or protects a person through a journey; equating this with an animal you like strips the term of its significance.
- Suggested alternatives: favorite animal or animal I would most like to be
For more information and resources, please visit the DEI+Belonging page on the Central Rivers AEA staff website.