Diversity
Collective mixtures of our students, staff, families and communities characterized by our differences and similarities.

The Diversity Wheel is a great visual representation of the diversity that we each possess. It gives an overview of the dimensions of diversity that are present and active in one’s environment. It consists of four layers of diversity: personality, internal, external and organizational dimensions.

• Personality (1st layer/center) represents how a person interacts with others and what his/her characteristics are, whether s/he is an introvert or extrovert, active or passive, a fast and dynamic doer or a silent and reflective thinker etc., and how all these aspects together affect the way the person is treated by others.
  
• Internal dimensions (2nd layer) are based on six aspects that an individual can’t choose or control him/herself. They are given: age, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, ethnicity and race. These aspects influence how the person is treated when s/he is dealing with diversity in communication and interaction with others. Ironically, these are the very attributes we think we can see, when we look at someone - and unfortunately, the sources from which most discrimination arises.
  
  
• External dimensions (3rd layer) depict the outcomes of life experiences and decisions/choices taken. Altogether there are ten different areas (such as education, work experience, income, marital status, … ) through which people can be appreciated or degraded, connected or disconnected depending on how exactly these aspects are seen and applied.
  
  
• Organizational dimensions (4th layer) include elements that are integrated into work and social interaction in an organization/school/ workplace. They contain a number of hierarchical as well as functional aspects of working life and how a person relates to them in the context of diversity.

Equity
Level setting of the organizational landscape where all are empowered to be their authentic selves and to contribute.

Inclusion
Creating and fostering a trusting environment in which all are included, respected, supported and engaged.

Sources
Developing Sensitivities To Diversities, Mika Launikari
Beloved Community
”Equity isn't just a slogan” by Dr. Pedro Noguera