- Explore equity and inclusion as a career skill
Equity and Inclusion
A person is skilled in equity and inclusion by demonstrating the awareness and ability to respectfully engage and include people from different local and global cultures while also actively challenging the systems and policies that are unfairly exclusionary.[1] In a global economy where working virtually is becoming more common, you should anticipate that you will interact professionally with people from a variety of different geographic, cultural, and demographic backgrounds.
Learning about experiences and perspectives that are different from your own will not only allow you to better understand and interact with co-workers, but in a business context, it is also important for maintaining productive relationships with customers and other stakeholders. In school and business, everyone is interested in seeking out and taking advantage of opportunities. Equity and inclusion is also about speaking up if you notice something about your organization is structured to unfairly exclude some groups from opportunity. Here are some examples of equity and inclusion in action within a college environment:
- Joining a club at school where you learn about other cultures such as Model United Nations, an anime club, or a cultural appreciation club
- Advocating for your college to invite guest speakers who reflect the diversity of the student body and the community
- Participate in a study abroad program as part of your studies. Your college may offer such programs and there are scholarship opportunities available such as: Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program; John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families; Critical Language Scholarship; and Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals.
You can view the transcript for “5 Spaghetti Dinners From Around the World” here (opens in new window).
An easy way to learn about other cultures is through food. Everyone eats and every culture has foods that are distinctive. Being open minded and trying something from a different culture is one way of learning and showing respect for that culture.
Talking about food is an easy way to form a connection with someone else. When is the last time that you ate spaghetti? Which of the dishes in this video would you most want to try?
- Pasta c’a Muddica Atturrata from Italy
- Crispy Spaghetti Nests from South Africa
- Super Savory Sapidly Salty Pasta from the U.S.
- Pink Beetroot Pasta from Australia
- Spaghetti from the Philippines
What did you think of the contributor’s comment that there is a correct way to prepare pasta? In what ways did the response by the video’s host demonstrate equity and inclusion?
- adapted from Development and Validation of the NACE Career Readiness Competencies. 2022. National Association of Colleges and Employers. https://www.naceweb.org/uploadedfiles/files/2022/resources/2022-nace-career-readiness-development-and-validation.pdf. ↵