Resources

Giving equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience. Accessibility encompasses the broader meaning of compliance and refers to how organizations make space for the characteristics that each person brings.

Sense of psychological safety leading to the ability to be one's authentic self without fear of judgement.

Change management addresses the people side of change. It is the application of a structured process and set of tools for leading change to achieve a desired outcome.

A community is a group of people that care about each other, feel they belong together and have the same goal. Community can be one’s home but also one’s self-discovered identity.

Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. It encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies.

Organizational culture is the shared story of the individuals within it. It is the deeply ingrained social fabric of the organization that drives people’s behavior. It is made up of the values, belief systems, dominant leadership styles, collective unspoken assumptions, stories, myths, legends and rituals as well as its character and orientation.

A mix of differences in any particular setting to include but not necessarily limited to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, age or generation, and job function.

Education for Sustainability is an educational approach that aims to develop students, schools and communities with the values and the motivation to take action for sustainability – in their personal lives, within their community and also at a global scale, now and in the future.

All people and communities have the right to equal environmental protection under the law, and the right to live, work and play in communities that are safe, healthy and free of life-threatening conditions.

The process by which we achieve fairness, equality, and inclusion that includes reallocation of resources and implementation of policies and structures that work to eliminate historical, systemic disadvantage.

An environment where people feel valued and respected for their uniqueness and feel a sense of belonging.

Acknowledgement that multiple power dynamics are operating simultaneously - often in complex and compounding ways - and must be considered together to have a more complete understanding of oppression and ways to transform it.

Removing the barriers and inequities in the social systems that oppress or marginalize specific groups of people who share common identities.

A person or group whose public or private status has been lowered through hateful, deceitful, or misguided speech or action.

Social oppression is a concept that describes the relationship between two categories of people in which one benefits from the systemic abuse and exploitation of the other.

System and group access, advantage and privilege ascribed to one based on the identity groups to which one belongs.

Unearned access to resources in society and power that is only readily available to some as a result of their social group membership.

A social construct with little biological meaning that separates people by physical characteristics, primarily skin color.

A system of advantages based on race, involving cultural messages and institutional policies and practices as well as the beliefs and actions of individuals.

Social justice is the equal access to wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Three pillars of sustainability are: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY and SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY - Ecological integrity is maintained, all of earth’s environmental systems are kept in balance while natural resources within them are consumed by humans at a rate where they are able to replenish themselves.

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY - Human communities across the globe are able to maintain their independence and have access to the resources that they require, financial and other, to meet their needs. Economic systems are intact and activities are available to everyone, such as secure sources of livelihood.

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY - Universal human rights and basic necessities are attainable by all people, who have access to enough resources in order to keep their families and communities healthy and secure. Healthy communities have just leaders who ensure personal, labor and cultural rights are respected and all people are protected from discrimination.

Examining the whole, rather than just the parts. Seeking patterns of change, rather than static snapshots to understand the subtle interconnectedness that gives living systems their unique character.