12 Attachment 3 DefinitionsTown of Los Gatos JEDI Definitions
Community Advisory Work Group: Equity Terms in Groupings (Source:Race Forward)
Racial Equity and Racial Justice
Racial Equity:is a process of eliminating racial disparities and improving outcomes for everyone. It is the intentional and continual
practice of changing policies, practices, systems, and structures by prioritizing measurable change in the lives of people of color.
From GARE: Racial equity is realized when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and outcomes for all groups are
improved.
Racial Justice:is a vision and transformation of society to eliminate racial hierarchies and advance collective liberation, where Black,
Indigenous, Latinx, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, in particular, have the dignity, resources, power, and
self-determination to fully thrive.
Distinction Between:Racial equity is the process for moving towards the vision of racial justice. Racial equity seeks measurable
milestones and outcomes that can be achieved on the road to racial justice. Racial equity is necessary, but not sufficient, for racial justice.
Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging
Diversity:A variety of racial identities or characteristics (e.g. African Americans, Native Americans, Latinx) as well as people from a range
of different social, racial, ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds; genders; sexual orientations; abilities; experiences; perspectives;
and other personal identities.Diversity is a quantitative measure of representation.
Inclusion:The measure of the quality of representation, such as full access, authentic representation, empowered participation, true
belonging and power-sharing. Inclusion is a qualitative measure of representation and participation.
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ATTACHMENT 3
Belonging:Belonging is a core need of all humans and is defined as a system of values and practices where no person is left out of the
circle of human concern.It is more than just access.It is having a meaningful voice and an opportunity to participate in the design of
cultural structures.Belonging includes the right to contribute as well as the right to make demands and it requires shared power,access,
and opportunity among all individuals within a shared system.Belonging is about being seen,heard and valued for the uniqueness that
each individual brings into the circle.(Source:Othering and Belonging Institute)
Distinction Between:You can have diversity without inclusion (e.g.tokenism,assimilation).You can’t have inclusion without diversity.
Focusing on inclusion gets you further than just focusing on diversity.Belonging is a term that goes beyond the legal or HR definitions
and gets to how power and meaningful inclusion can look and feel within the context of a group or network.
Equity and Equality
Equality:Is sameness;everyone gets the same thing.Equality focuses on everyone getting the same opportunity,but often ignores the
realities of historical exclusion and power differentials among whites and other racialized groups.
Equity:Ensures that outcomes in the conditions of well-being are improved for marginalized groups,lifting outcomes for all.Equity is a
measure of justice.
Distinction Between:Equality uses the same strategies for everyone,but because people are situated differently,they are not likely to
get the same outcomes.Equity uses differentiated and targeted strategies to address different needs and to get to fair outcomes.
Equality-focused strategies don’t work for,or benefit,everyone –e.g.teaching everyone the same way does not work for different kinds
of learners—each must be taught the appropriate way for them.
Types of Racial Bias
Explicit/Conscious:Conscious attitudes and beliefs about a person or group;also known as overt and intentional racial bias.
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Implicit/Unconscious:Attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding,decisions and actions in an unconscious manner.
Individual:Bias by individuals.But if the individual is acting in an institutional capacity (e.g.a teacher or a police officer)their individual
bias is also a manifestation of institutional bias.
Institutional:Bias by institutions—such as patterns,practices,policies,or cultural norms that advantage or disadvantage people of
color.
Debiasing Strategies:Interventions to eliminate,mitigate or prevent bias are often focused on the individual level,rather than at the
institutional level,where interventions are most needed.Debiasing strategies focused on individual change (e.g.“just be aware of your
bias),”have dubious impacts and success.Debiasing strategies focused at the institutional levels can help prevent and remove
opportunities for bias by instituting practices,policies,and protocols that require institutional actors to address institutional racism.
Levels of Racism
Individual Racism (Internalized &Interpersonal)
-Internalized:lies within individuals.These are private beliefs and biases about race that reside inside our own minds and bodies.
For White people,this can be internalized privilege,entitlement,and superiority;for people of color,this can be internalized
oppression.Examples:prejudice,xenophobia,conscious and unconscious bias about race,influenced by the white normative or
dominant culture.
-Interpersonal:occurs between individuals.Bias,bigotry,and discrimination based on race.Once we bring our private beliefs about
race into our interactions with others,we are now in the interpersonal realm.Examples:public expressions of prejudice and hate,
microaggressions (common place intentional or unintentional terms or hostility),bias and bigotry between individuals.
Systematic Racism (Institutional &Structural)
-Institutional:occurs within institutions.It involves unjust policies,practices,procedures,and outcomes that work better for
White people than people of color,whether intentional or not.Example:A school district that concentrates students of color in
the most overcrowded,under-funded schools with the least experienced teachers.
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-Structural:is racial inequities across institutions,policies,social structures,history,and culture.Structural racism highlights how
racism operates as a system of power with multiple interconnected,reinforcing,and self-perpetuating components which result
in racial inequities across all indicators for success.Structural racism is the racial inequity that is deeply rooted and embedded in
our history and culture and our economic,political,and legal systems.Examples:The “racial wealth gap,”where Whites have
many times the wealth of people of color,resulting from the history and current reality of institutional racism in multiple systems.
Intersectionality
The concept of intersectionality describes the ways in which systems of inequality based on gender,race,ethnicity,sexual orientation,
gender identity,disability,class and other forms of discrimination “intersect”to create unique dynamics and effects.All forms of
inequality are mutually reinforcing and must therefore be analyzed and addressed simultaneously to prevent one form of inequality
from reinforcing another.Intersectionality brings our understanding of systemic injustice and social inequality to the next level by
attempting to untangle the lines that create the complex web of inequalities.It is also a practical tool that can be used to tackle
intersectional discrimination through policies and laws.(Intersectional Justice)
LGBTQIA+Discrimination
Being harassed,discriminated against and/or being denied access to employment,housing,access to basic goods and services and/or
the ability to participate meaningfully in our society's decision making processes,based on gender identity,sexual orientation and/or
gender expression.(Gender Equity Law)
Discrimination Based on Ability:Ableism
Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior.
At its heart,ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’and defines people by their disability.(Ableism 101)
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Anti-Semitism
The belief or behavior hostile toward Jews just because they are Jewish.It may take the form of religious teachings that proclaim the
inferiority of Jews,for instance,or political efforts to isolate,oppress,or otherwise injure them.It may also include prejudiced or
stereotyped views about Jewish peoples.(ADL)
Current Town of Los Gatos Racial Justice Terms:General Plan 2040
Term General Plan 2040
BIPOC Acronym referring to Black,Indigenous,and Persons of Color.
Disadvantaged Community An area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
pursuant to Section 39711 of the California Health and Safety Code or a predominantly
low-income area that is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other
hazards that can lead to negative health effects,exposure,or environmental degradation.
Environmental Justice The fair treatment of people of all races,cultures,incomes,political and religious
affiliation,and national origins with respect to the development,adoption,
implementation,and enforcement of
environmental laws,regulations,and policies including climate adaptation strategies.
Equality Is sameness;everyone gets the same thing.Equality focuses on everyone getting the
same opportunity,but often ignores the realities of historic exclusion and power
differentials among whites and other racialized groups.
Equity Ensures that outcomes in the conditions of well-being are improved for marginalized
groups,lifting outcomes for all.Equity is a measure of justice.
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Explicit Bias Conscious attitudes and beliefs about a person or group,also known as overt and
intentional bias.
Implicit Bias Attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding,decisions,and actions in an
unconscious manner.
Social Capital A concept in social science that involves the potential of individuals to secure benefits and
invent solutions to problems through membership in social networks.Social capital
revolves around three dimensions:interconnected networks of relationships between
individuals and groups (social ties or social participation),levels of trust that characterize
these ties,and resources or benefits that are both gained and transferred by virtue of
social ties and social participation.
Socially Disadvantaged Individuals and
Groups
Socially disadvantaged individuals and groups who have
been subjected to prejudice or some form of discrimination or bias because of their
perceived identity as a member of a particular group (i.e.,race,ethnicity,culture,sex,
political or religious affiliation,sexual orientation,age,immigration status)without regard
to their individuality and/or merit.
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