Cultural Competence: Developing a set of beliefs, attitudes, values, policies, and practices that foster effective communication, relationship building, and service/product delivery. We approach cultural competence through five buckets of work: 1) shared knowledge, terms, data, and concepts 2) valuing diversity 3) self-assessment (individual and organizational) 4) recognizing and navigating difference 5) applying these insights to policy changes, programs, and organizational practices (working within strategic priorities).

Cultural Humility: The ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is not “other”-oriented (as in “open to” the other) with regard to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to another [person]. Having cultural humility is about the ability to focus on one’s own identity, influence, and place and the impact that has on individuals. This can be applied to individuals or organizations.

Cultural Reflexivity: A step beyond cultural competency. We practice cultural reflexivity to improve overall organizational performance and more effectively meet the needs of the organization’s expanding community and often, evolving mission and vision, and the needs of the community at large.

Diversity: Ways we are similar and different in character, values (emotional, spiritual, physical, mental), and external socioeconomic factors.

Equity: Providing an opportunity for “level set” access to resources. Equity is different than equality. Equity strives for providing access to what is needed towards fair and reasonable outcomes whereas equality is about equal distribution which is often insufficient when starting from the uneven impact of systems of oppression like poverty, race, and gender.

Inclusion: Developing a Privilege and Power analysis that first recognizes there is a system in which marginalized communities are excluded and need to be included, and then creating safety and trust in those environments. The integration of underrepresented individuals or groups into that system safely (without threat of harm, perception of harm, or actual direct harm). Harm can take many forms: isolation, retaliation, loss of relationship and/or status, loss of resources or access as well as any other discriminatory impacts.

Gender: A historical, sociopolitical construct to afford superiority, power, and access to the male and masculine identity.

Gender Analysis: Unpacking and consistent integrated acknowledgement of the internal, interpersonal, cultural, and structural barriers and opportunities for evolution within the construct of gender.

Liberation/Systemic Change: Removing structural institutional barriers that limit an individual or community to thrive and flourish.

Positive Psychology: A system of thinking that builds on what is working within the areas of growth mindset, resilience, the idea of "broaden and build," and all of the new brain science that is emerging.

Poverty: The extent to which an individual, group, or community does without adequate resources to meet basic needs on a journey to thriving and flourishing.

Privilege: The extent to which an individual has access to earned or unearned benefits that allow them to meet basic needs on a journey to thriving and flourishing.

Race: A historical sociopolitical construct to afford superiority, wealth, and access to the white race.

Race Analysis: Unpacking (and consistent acknowledgement) of the internal, interpersonal, cultural, and structural barriers and opportunities for evolution within the construct of race.

Tolerance — the capacity to create space for individuals and their cultural contexts of attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviors

White Supremacy: This term is used in many ways, but white supremacy is another way to say white superiority which is a symptom of the institution of race that can be held by people of diverse backgrounds.