Toward an Inclusive Excellence Community

These practices have been adapted and substantially modified by Nacho Córdova (Assistant Professor, Rhetoric & Media Studies, Willamette University), for use at Willamette University, from Larry Yang’s “Directing the Mind Toward Practices in Diversity”. 

<br>

Building an Inclusive Community Through Self-Reflection and Practice
Adapted by Nacho Córdova, Assistant Professor, Rhetoric & Media Studies, Willamette University

Willamette is a campus that welcomes, celebrates and promotes respect for all individuals. Our educational mission is enhanced by our appreciation and understanding of diversity in all aspects of human endeavor, and by our commitment to a philosophy of inclusive excellence that stems from the basic principles of respect and nurturing of the diverse gifts we all bring. We take as key elements of our philosophy that every person is entitled to respect, dignity, opportunities for a fulfilling life within our community, and equality under the law. Thus, we foster unity and inclusive excellence through the cultivation of such key elements as central values.

Willamette seeks to facilitate, implement, and where appropriate guide well planned programs as part of a comprehensive approach designed to develop and foster an inclusive excellence community. We are an institution in which intellectual exploration and social growth is accomplished through the building of life long relationships. These relationships are forged through the intimacy of our community, and through our careful reflection of institutional as well as individual practices and values necessary for this task.  Our University motto, Not unto ourselves alone are we born, strengthens our understanding that the way we behave toward one another is the fullest expression of what we believe, and that our actions as members of this University ought to advance the development of a community dedicated to equipping one another for the work of nurturing equity, respect, justice, and dignity for all. 

1.     Aware of the suffering caused by imposing one’s own opinions or cultural beliefs upon another human being, I recognize the need to refrain from forcing others, in any way—through authority, threat, coercion, or financial incentive, to adopt my own belief system. I am committed to respecting every human being’s right to be different, while working towards the elimination of discrimination and oppression.

2.     Aware of the suffering caused by invalidating, dismissing, or denying another person’s experience, I understand the need to refrain from making assumptions, or judging harshly any beliefs and attitudes that are different from my own or not understandable to me. I am committed to cultivating open-mindedness toward other points of view, and to meeting each perceived difference in another person with the willingness to learn more about their worldview and individual circumstances, as well as about my own assumptions about such perceived differences. I understand that expecting others to adapt rapidly to new cultural situations and contexts is to unfairly dismiss individual variation of response to changing life circumstances.

3. Aware of the suffering caused by the violence of treating someone as inferior or superior to one’s own self, I endeavor to not diminish or idealize the worth, integrity, and happiness of any human being. I understand that the legacies of past and continuing racism and discrimination are still with us in visible and not-so-visible forms. I’m cognizant that valuing diversity and inclusivity in community stems from the basic principles of respect and nurturing of the diverse gifts we all bring.

4. Aware that much suffering can be caused by ignorance and lack of information, and by intentional and unintentional acts of rejection, exclusion, stereotyping, avoidance, or indifference towards people who are different in terms of race, sexual orientation, class, disability, religion, ethnicity, gender, educational level, national origin, or age, I will endeavor to expand my knowledge about cultural practices, world views, ethnic traditions, and life experiences outside of my own, and to search out ways to diversify my relationships with people of different backgrounds.

5. Aware of the ill effects caused by the often unseen nature of privilege, and the establishment of a select group as the norm, I recognize the need to carefully examine the ways that I have privilege, in order to determine skillful ways of fostering equity and inclusiveness, and of assuring that others will be treated with the full dignity they deserve. I understand that taking a select group as the norm reinforces collective dispositions that reflect the prevailing attitudes of particular social contexts, and not necessarily of others.  I am committed to practicing generosity and treating others as ends not means, regardless of diverse background.

6. Aware of the ill effects and suffering caused to myself, others, and our communities, by fear, anger, and the language we use, I recognize the importance of not reacting defensively or using harmful words during disagreements or moments of conflict. I recognize that words influence our self-concept, our identity, the way we think, and our feelings of belonging and acceptance, and that words can pre-dispose us toward certain ways of experiencing. Thus, I am committed to genuinely listening to all sides with patience, respect, and compassion so as to nourish the development of authentic relationships across differences.

7. Aware of the damage we cause our communities when we exclude others by disavowing their difference, I understand that respect for difference, and treating others with dignity and equity are primary responsibilities of all members of an inclusive community. I recognize the importance of skillful communication so as not to dismiss the daily experiences of exclusion that individuals and groups often feel. I am committed to enhancing my understanding of the various ways in which individuals and groups often feel excluded.

8. Aware of the suffering caused by the cumulative harm that groups of people can impose on individuals and other groups, I endeavor to refrain from consciously validating or participating in group processes, dynamics, activities, decisions, or actions on a familial, social, institutional, governmental, societal, cultural, or global level, which perpetuate the suffering that these reflections describe. I am committed to exploring, examining, and eliminating the ways that I consciously and unconsciously ally myself with forces that cause harm and suffering, and to working for equity, respect and dignity for all people.