Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” – Stephen Covey
Community Building
Building a community or like minded individuals is great, but differences in individuals allows growth-mindedness, perspective, and a welcoming environment. As a Resident Assistant, it is my duty to embrace differences and define our community as diverse by not only acknowledging the diversity, but embracing and educating others about it.
Intersectionality
The overlap of identity groups may result in harsher realities than others. As a designer, it is important to note that although some individuals may be in the majority for one aspect of life, but could be a minority in another. Planning and brainstorming is the perfect time to explore users who are intersectional.
Consciousness
Developing a diversity conscious mind is imperative when it comes to design. Practicing self awareness, becoming conscious of bias, and staying curious are ways to improve cultural intelligence as well as design practices. As a council president of one of our four greek communities, I constantly surrounded myself with individuals with differing mindsets, cultures, and perspectives in order to better my community, similar to how I construct my design practices.