Approach to Equity
Approach to Equity
Embedded Files
The CA4ALL College Corps program is an Equity based initiatived fueled by three core goals: 1) Create a generation of civic-minded leaders with the ability to bridge divides and solve problems, 2) Help low income students graduate college on time and with less debt, 3) Address societal challenges and help build more equitable communities across California.
The Center for Community Based Learning staff is committed, both personally and professionally, to infusing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) into our work which is why we are excited to have partnered with California Volunteers to establish a College Corps chapter in our area.
Equity v Equality
Equity v Equality
While the terms equity and equality may sound similar, the implementation of one versus the other can lead to dramatically different outcomes for marginalized people. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
The words equality and equity are often confused because, at a glance, they appear to mean the same thing. They both have to do with the way people are treated, and both are used in the fields of law, government, economics, and so on. Often, these terms are used to describe actions, laws, or rules that are attempting to end or oppose injustice or unfair treatment of people. However, equality and equity are not synonyms, and the methods used to achieve them are often very different.
The word equality is defined as “the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.” The word equity is defined as “the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality” or “something that is fair and just”. The complication with equity is that people often disagree on what is “just” or “fair.” These are subjective concepts and, as a result, laws and policies that attempt to achieve equity are often challenged in court or are controversial. The use of the word equity has increased due to concerns about social justice and a desire for fairness for historically oppressed groups.
In the law, minority groups may have equal rights but are still treated unfairly. Historically oppressed groups such as LGBTQ+ people, Black people, and Indigenous peoples have not only fought for equality, but continue to fight for equity in society.
The College Corps program will address societal challenges and help build more equitable communities. As you prepare to work Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwood students it is key to see equity as a process, a practice and an outcome. Equity goes beyond diversity and inclusion and will require us to deepen our capacity to understand, communicate with and effectively engage in new ways with people, organizations, and systems across identities and cultures. Consider these questions as you work with your Fellow to determine what projects they'll be working on this year: What equitable outcomes are we striving for? How can we develop and utilize equitable processes? What equitable practices will be implemented?
Social and Environmental Justice
Social and Environmental Justice
Our College Corps program has three focus areas; food insecurity, K-12 education and climate action. Our team believes it is key to understand that social issues and environmental issues go hand and hand. This is why we have included a short section of how the two are tied together.
Social Justice aims to ensure fair treatment of individuals and groups. The concept of social justice is that every group or individual receives a fair share of social and economic benefits, as well as environmental benefits.
Environmental Justice is primarily concerned with the positive as well as negative effects that different environmental factors can have on communities and individuals.
The environmental justice movement grew in response to the disproportionate environmental burdens communities of color and low-income communities bear including pollution, industrial production and processing facilities, landfills and power plants. Simultaneously these communities often have fewer environmental benefits like parks, gardens and green spaces, while facing inadequate health care, access to healthy food, less political power. The Environmental Justice Movement leverages the gains and protections from the American Civil Rights movement and recognizing discrimination also happen in terms of environmental benefits and burdens.
One key tenet of the environmental justice movement is that it operates from a broader interpretation of ‘environment’ than has historically been used by the environmental movement; one that includes human habitats: places where people live, work and play. To someone involved with environmental justice, your home, office, or school playground is just as much a part of the environment as rivers, forests, National Parks and remote wilderness areas are. For example, the concern for clean water is not limited to rivers, lakes, and streams. It also includes the water coming from the tap in your kitchen, which may contain contaminants if your home has lead pipes or if the water comes from an unregulated source, such as a well serving a small or transient population.
Social and environmental justice issues permeate all three College Corps focus areas (K-12 education, food insecurity and climate action) and can more deeply inform the activities of a focus area while revealing efforts and understandings from other focus areas.
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