With images of peaceful protests and concerns for racial injustice in our current climate, we all need to think about who we are and what we stand for as we work in our businesses. In particular, we need to reflect on why the values of equity, diversity and inclusion might be integral to our practices.  We need to consider what these words mean when we reflect upon them. Following our reflections, we can then plan how best to weave these values into our business plans, professional development and daily practices.

If we merely focus on fitness goals for our clients and revenue streams for our businesses, we may be limited in the social impact we can have. We may be missing out on engaging with unique perspectives, different cultures and potential clients.

Social justice means leveling the playing field to ensure that everyone has access to the same programs, resources and opportunities. The key values are diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB). Diversityseeks to connect with under-represented or equity-deserving groups. Equity means treating people fairly, not necessarily the same way. Inclusion aims to welcome individuals and groups to your programs, services and organizations. Belonging is a personal perspective that one is an integral member of a particular community.

DEIB Practices for Your Personal Development

To be better equipped to meet our diverse communities needs, we need to take time for personal development and growth to become more versed and experienced in DEIB. First, you need to begin with self-awareness, followed by planning a personal development and growth journey.

For self-awareness, begin by reflecting on your social identities. What is your gender, age, education, race, sexual orientation, visible/invisible abilities/disabilities, etc. Based on your social identities, you may experience certain privileges and challenges. For example, as a Chinese cis-gender woman educated through the Canadian school system, I am comfortable navigating the programs and policies of public school systems and higher education programs and policies. However, through my formal education, I was not very aware of Indigenous communities in Canada. I had decided a while back to change that gap in my knowledge and experiences of Indigenous communities.

To learn about Canada’s Indigenous peoples, I have committed to learn all I can about their historical experiences and cultural practices. I have been a member of a Council for Aboriginal Initiatives, hired staff who have identified as Indigenous, and co-presented with Indigenous colleagues. I have also hosted Indigenous students for a March break overnight camp, managed a Pow Wow event, attended conferences about Indigeneity, and even attended an immersive four day overnight program to learn Ojibwe teachings from elders. I am grateful to have learned from many Indigenous elders, traditional teachers and knowledge keepers who have shared their teachings from their nations’ teachings. Some of these nations include Oneida of the Thames First Nation, Mohawk Nation at Tyendinaga Territory, Stó:lō Nation in British Columbia, York Factory Cree Nation in Manitoba, Shawnaga First Nation in East Shore Georgian Bay, Haida Nation in British Columbia,  and Dene Nation in the Northwest Territories.

Having been engaged in all of these activities for over ten years, I feel that I am still in the learning stage. I continue expanding my cultural experiences with different Indigenous communities through my travels in Canada and abroad. As I continue to learn, I am in a privileged position as an educator to share my own experiences about Indigenous communities through my professional activities, writing and presentations.

As a DEIB champion, I am careful to speak based on my lived experiences, research findings and as a member of a community with which I identify. When we want to advance EDIB, we need to be mindful to speak only from our own lived experiences, and not on behalf of whole communities. When you can use your privilege to provide space and opportunity for under-represented individuals and communities to speak – to raise their voices, to represent themselves – do so. You are then a true ally.