To kick off this academic year, I’m offering the topic of humanity. You may be wondering, what does humanity have to do with DEIB (belonging)? The answer is EVERYTHING. Humanity can refer to human beings collectively, highlighting this common bond between all of us. Humanity can also be used to describe humaneness or benevolence, speaking to the levels of dignity, compassion, and kindness with which we treat each other.
Finally, in its plural form, humanities refer to learning or literature related to human culture. For many, culture is an inseparable part of our identity and how we move through the world. In every possible definition of the word, humanity is strongly tied to principles of DEIB. I thought this was a nice topic to focus on as we begin the year. It gives us an opportunity to think about how we want to treat each other throughout the year, and what we can do to see the humanity of each other.
