“Understanding and Building Equity in Community” will be the focus of a presentation and conversation next month in downtown Columbus.
The April 11th event, which will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The Commons, will be hosted by the United Way of Bartholomew County, Heritage Fund — the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, Community Education Coalition and CivicLab.
The presentation will begin with a speech from a representative of the Oakland, California-based National Equity Project (NEP), according to United Way Executive Director Mark Stewart.
Often working extensively with schools, the NEP website states the organization attempts to achieve equity at three different levels:
Ensuring equally high outcomes for all participants; removing the predictability of success or failures that currently correlates with any social or cultural factor.
Interrupting inequitable practices, examining biases, and creating inclusive multicultural school environments for adults and children.
Discovering and cultivating the unique gifts, talents and interests that every human possesses.
But beside schools, Stewart says the National Equity Project also works to build equity within nonprofit organizations, neighborhoods and communities.
After the presentation, the audience will be encouraged to participate in a public discussion on the subject, Stewart said.
Although Equity in Community is not a new idea, Stewart said the April 11 event is intended to introduce the concept to local residents unfamiliar with its possibilities.
The terms equality and equity are frequently considered interchangeable, but while equality generally means treating everyone the same, equity refers to providing individuals with what they specifically need to be successful.
“There really are a lot of different ways to define equity,” Stewart said. “The meeting will help us begin to develop a shared understanding, as well as kick off discussions why equity is important to our organizations and communities.”
This session is limited to the first 150 people to register online at: civiclab1.wufoo.com/forms/community-equity-lab.
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What: Understanding and Building Equity in Community
When: 9 – 11:30 a.m. April 11
Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St.
Hosts: United Way of Bartholomew County, Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, Community Education Coalition and CivicLab.
How to register: The event is limited to the first 150 people to register. Online at:
civiclab1.wufoo.com/forms/community-equity-lab
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