Equity & Belonging

Graphic showcasing the page title of "Equity and belonging"

Equity and belonging is the knowledge that everyone brings different live experience to the discussion or team and that makes the whole team stronger. How do you respect, collaborate with, and learn from people of different backgrounds, strengths, and viewpoints than your own? Who can you include for a perspective outside of your own viewpoint or to catch something you might have missed?

Using Equity & Belonging

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Using Equity & Belonging

Ways to Develop Equity & Belonging

  1. Explore and embrace the value you and others bring:
    1. Reflect on and identify your unique background, identities, and strengths. Consider how your own identities and experiences and those of others’ add to our global community. 
    2. Take advantage of training and development opportunities at UMD to learn more about equity, power, privilege, oppression, identity, and more. 
  2. Seek out perspectives different from your own:
    1. Participate in an event hosted by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion or the American Indian Learning Resource Center.
    2. Search for classes for the upcoming semester to see if there are classes you can take that will expose you to different perspectives or ways of thinking. 
  3. Engage in diverse experiences and get involved: 
    1. Join a student organization through the Office of Diversity and Inclusion or through the Cultural or Political & Social Action organizations in Bulldog Connect.
    2. Work towards improving UMD’s campus climate by joining a Unit Change Team, the Student Government Association, or a Commission at UMD.
    3. Study Abroad.
    4. Work or volunteer for a department, organization, or in a role that supports or works toward equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
    5. Get involved in Duluth, Minnesota, or National social justice/identity organizations.
    6. Consider majoring in or minoring in World Languages and Cultures, Studies in Justice, Culture, & Social Change, American Indian Studies, or History, Political Science & International Studies.
    7. Conduct career conversations and research to learn more about the culture and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives of potential employers.
    8. Look at the learning outcomes on your syllabi or talk to your faculty about how you're developing this skill in your classes and with which assignments. 

Ways to Demonstrate Equity & Belonging on Your Resume

  • Involvement and experiences in cultural, identity, and social action-related organizations. 
  • Classes, training, or life experiences that exposed you to different perspectives or had you exploring and challenging systems, structures, and policies of structural racism and discrimination.
  • Experiences in student organizations, sports, or group work where you had the opportunity to collaborate with individuals of varying identities.
  • Study abroad experiences.
  • Use action verbs in your descriptions such as listen, collaborate, reflect, integrate, or advocate. More action verb options.
  • General tips: Be mindful of not “othering” those from identity groups other than your own, place extra emphasis on situations where you have been able to advocate with people versus for them, consider various aspects of diversity (i.e. age, race, national origin, gender identity), don’t share stories that aren’t yours to share and above all respect people’s confidentiality.
  • Unsure? Discuss your ideas with Career Center staff on what to include.
  • Resume resources

Sample Interview Questions to Demonstrate Equity & Belonging

  • How will you contribute to a culture of inclusion?
  • Describe your experience with diversity and diverse populations.
  • What does an inclusive and equitable office environment look like to you?
  • What do you do to develop a rapport with peers from different backgrounds than your own?
  • Interview Resources